This document provides guidance on conducting literature searches for a dissertation. It discusses defining a topic and keywords, identifying relevant information sources, searching databases and resources, evaluating information, organizing references, and citing sources. Tips are provided on building effective search strategies using Boolean operators and truncation. Recommended information sources include library databases, Google Scholar, and bibliographic management tools like EndNote. The goal is to conduct a thorough search across reliable sources and properly manage references.

1. GeoSciences MSc
•Literature Searching
•Sources of information
•Managing your references
•Practical
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2. Searching the Research Literature
I need to find information for my dissertation
where do I start ...?
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3. Literature Searching
• Define your topic
produce a list of keywords and phrases which you could use as search
terms
• Identify potential sources of information
• Search selected resources
• Evaluate the information
• Organise, apply and communicate the information
cite references, consider bibliographic reference management tools
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4. First Steps
Just type your title into Google or Web of Science
Maybe… but this can give lots of irrelevant hits or no results
So… try to find a way to get the best information from a range of
quality sources
Construct a thoughtful and thorough search for sources
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5. What words will you use in your search?
1. Identify the concepts
2. Think of the relevant terms for each concept
3. Think of alternative words, US spelling, acronyms, broader
and narrower terms
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6. Brainstorming Aids Mind Maps
Spider diagrams
Inspiration – Univ software
Tables
Which antihypertensives are safest in treating hypertension during pregnancy or childbirth?
Major subjects antihypertensives hypertension pregnancy or childbirth
Alternative spellings anti-hypertensive(s) high blood pressure Parturition
related terms beta blockers toxemia Birth
synonyms specific drug names preeclampsia Labour/ labor
PIH
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7. Search Strategy - combining your terms can help
AND: to combine terms - will narrow your search
OR: between alternative words - will broaden your search
NOT: to exclude unwanted items
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8. Some more ways to improve your search
Truncation: allows you to search for variations
geolog* = geology, geological
climat* = climate, climatic
Phrase: helps retrieve more relevant results
“stem cell”
“greenhouse gases”
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9. What are the effects of air travel on climate change?
Could become:
(air OR aviation OR plane)
AND travel
AND climat* change
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10. Sources of Information
• The web
 Google
 Google Scholar
 Relevant websites
• The library
 The library catalogue – books
 Searcher – books, book chapters, journal articles
 Databases
• A recommended article can be a good start
Use the search terms you’ve planned and be systematic
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11. Google Scholar
• A good place to start but not always a good place to stop
• Setting ‘Preferences’ can help you export to Endnote etc
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12. Using the Library - MyEd
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13. www.ed.ac.uk/is/library
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14. Searcher
• Allows searches across a major selection of our resources
• Results are academic, good quality and from reliable sources
• You don’t have to know where to look
Bear in mind
• Not suitable for detailed literature searching but can indicate
potentially useful sources
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15. Searcher
Gives you options to refine your search, also has additional features
such as folders and alerts, to help you manage your results.
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18. Refining your search
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20. Organise …
• You can set-up an user account
• Therefore don’t have to repeat work already done
• Save searches and results into folders to manage your
searches
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21. Where to find (out about) databases
A-Z list and databases by subjects
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22. Database records provide
• Citation
• Abstract
• Subject headings
• Catalogue lookup (Find it at Edinburgh)
• Links to full text rather than the full-text (if we have a subscription or
access is free)
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23. Bibliographic databases
• Contain information about the contents of a range of academic
publications (abstracts, journal articles, book chapters, reports etc)
• Search details of millions of articles to find what publications exist about
a topic - even if not held in our library
• Can be subject specific – although you may need to use more than one
• Can use sophisticated searches
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24. Database Access
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25. Database Access
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27. Information Assessment
•Currency – Is there a date attached? Does it matter?
•Relevancy - how close a fit is it to your search strategy/inclusion criteria?
•Accuracy - Is there information included which you know is inaccurate?
•Authority - Do you trust the author of the information?
•Objectivity - Is there bias?
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28. Managing your references
• Saves you time and tedious tasks
• Use to construct and manage a database of references for your thesis
• Will automatically build bibliographies to Word documents – Cite while
you write
• Can import references from a variety of different sources (WOK, Google
Scholar etc)
• Can share references
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29. EndNote(Web) Libraries
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30. EndNote Guides
• Available for Windows or Mac
• Search ISiskills: http://www.iskills.is.ed.ac.uk/
• Keeping a Bibliography using EndNote
http://www.docs.is.ed.ac.uk/skills/documents/3745/3745.pdf
• Introduction to EndNote Web
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/information-services/services/help-
consultancy/is-skills/catalogue/text/endnote-web-intro
• Endnote Web
 Just requires a web browser
 Free with our Web of Knowledge (WoK) subscription
 Registration http://www.myendnoteweb.com
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31. Summary
• Think about your dissertation – search terms,
• Remember truncation, boolean, building searches
• Use Library resources
• Refine your search
• Save your results/searches
• Export to Reference Management
• Remember to cite the references you use appropriately
Help – on the webpage and from library staff
www.ed.ac.uk/is/library
www.ed.ac.uk/is/help
IS.Helpline@ed.ac.uk
Angela.Nicholson@ed.ac.uk, Tel: 50 5915
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32.  Go through all of the Web of Science exercise
(even if you’ve used it before)
 Try another database that covers your area of interest
 If not, look at Searcher
 Register for Endnote Web
 Transfer a selection of records
 Try Cite will you write
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