The document discusses the importance and methodology of conducting a literature survey in research, particularly in the fields of science and pharmacy. It emphasizes how a literature review helps contextualize research, identify gaps, build theoretical frameworks, avoid redundancy, and select suitable research methods. Additionally, it outlines steps for effective literature searches, useful tools and databases, and best practices for managing references and keeping up to date with current literature.

1. Literature Search –
Possible ways of getting oneself abreast
of current literature
By- Dr. Meera C. Singh( M.Pharm.
Ph.D)
Professor in Pharmaceutics
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2. WHY LITERATURE SURVEY IS IMPORTANT IN
RESEARCH AND HOW IT IS DONE
• A literature survey, also known as a literature review, is a critical
component of research. It involves reviewing and analyzing existing
literature, research studies, and scholarly works relevant to the research
topic.
• Why a literature survey is important in research:
• 1. Contextualizing the Research:
• A literature survey provides context for your research by outlining the
existing knowledge, theories, and concepts related to your topic. It helps
you understand where your research fits within the broader academic
landscape.
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3. Why a literature survey is important in research:
cont-
• 2. Identifying Gaps and Research Questions:
• By reviewing existing literature, you can identify gaps in the current
understanding of the topic. These gaps can lead to the formulation of
research questions or hypotheses that address areas that have not
been adequately explored.
• 3. Building a Theoretical Framework:
• A literature survey helps you build a theoretical framework that
underpins your research. It provides you with a foundation of
established theories, models, and concepts that you can use to guide
your study.
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4. Why a literature survey is important in research:
cont-
• 4. Avoiding Redundancy:
• By understanding what has already been done, you can avoid
duplicating research efforts. This prevents redundancy and ensures
that your research contributes something new to the field.
• 5. Selecting Research Methods:
• Reviewing literature can help you determine the most suitable
research methods for your study. You can learn from the methods
used in previous studies and adapt or refine them for your own
research.
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5. Why a literature survey is important in research:
cont-
• 6. Identifying Key Concepts and Keywords:
• A literature survey helps you identify key concepts and keywords
related to your topic. These are crucial for conducting effective
literature searches and finding relevant sources.
• 7. Evaluating and Critiquing Previous Research:
• By reviewing existing studies, you can assess their strengths,
weaknesses, methodologies, and findings. This enables you to
critically evaluate the quality of prior research.
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6. Why a literature survey is important in research:
cont-
• 8. Supporting Your Hypotheses or Arguments:
• Existing research can provide evidence that supports or challenges
your hypotheses or arguments. Incorporating relevant findings from
the literature strengthens the credibility of your research.
• 9. Informing Data Collection and Analysis:
• A literature survey guides your data collection and analysis by
highlighting common methods, approaches, and best practices used
in previous studies.
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7. Why a literature survey is important in research:
cont-
• 10. Enhancing Credibility and Rigor:
• Referencing established research in your literature review enhances
the credibility and rigor of your study. It demonstrates that your
research is grounded in existing scholarship.
• 11. Synthesizing Information:
• A literature survey allows you to synthesize information from multiple
sources, showing trends, patterns, and contradictions in the
literature. This can lead to new insights and perspectives.
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8. Why a literature survey is important in research:
cont-
• 12. Demonstrating Scholarly Engagement:
• A comprehensive literature survey demonstrates your engagement
with the scholarly community. It shows that you have taken the time
to understand and contribute to the ongoing discourse in your field.
• A literature survey helps you position your research within the larger
academic conversation, informs your research design, strengthens
your arguments, and ensures that your work is relevant, credible, and
impactful.
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9. Steps for Conducting a Literature Search
• Define Your Research Question: Clearly articulate the research
question or objective to guide your search.
• Identify Keywords: List down the main concepts and keywords
related to your research question. Include synonyms and related
terms to broaden your search.
• Choose Databases and Search Engines:
• Academic Databases: Use databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus,
and Web of Science.
• University Libraries: Access databases and resources provided by your
institution's library.
• Specialized Databases: For specific fields, use specialized databases like
SciFinder, a database provided by the American Chemical Society (ACS)
Excerpta Medica's EMbase is another valuable resource, as it provides
comprehensive coverage of biomedical literature,
• Some databases fall in between general and specialized, like ScienceDirect,
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10. Steps for Conducting a Literature Search cont-
• Use Boolean Operators: Combine keywords using Boolean operators
(AND, OR, NOT) to refine your search.AND narrows the search by
combining terms.OR broadens the search by including any of the
terms.NOT excludes terms to refine the search.
• Apply Filters: Use filters to narrow down results by publication date,
document type (e.g., articles, reviews, theses), and language.
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11. Steps for Conducting a Literature Search cont-
• Review Abstracts and Titles: Skim through the titles and abstracts to
identify relevant articles.
• Access Full Texts: Use institutional access, interlibrary loans, or open-
access repositories to get the full texts of relevant articles.
• Follow Citations: Look at the references in relevant papers to find
additional sources. Use tools like Google Scholar’s “Cited by” feature
to find newer papers that cite the article you found useful.
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12. Tools for Managing References
• Reference Management Software: Use tools like EndNote, Zotero,
Mendeley, or RefWorks to organize and manage your references.
• These tools can help you store, organize, and format references in various
citation styles.
• They often come with browser plugins to directly save references from
databases and websites.
• Notes and Annotations: Take notes and annotate PDFs directly in
your reference management software or using PDF annotation tools.
• Database Features: Many databases allow you to save searches,
create alerts for new publications on your topic, and export citations
in different formats.
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13. Best Practices for a Thorough Literature Search
• Be Systematic: Follow a systematic approach to ensure you cover all
relevant literature.
• Keep Records: Document your search strategy, including databases
used, search terms, and filters applied.
• Stay Updated: Regularly update your search to include the latest
research.
• Diversify Sources: Look for literature from different types of sources
(e.g., peer-reviewed journals, books, conference papers).
• Evaluate Sources: Critically evaluate the credibility and relevance of
the sources you find.
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14. Example of a Search Strategy case study
• Suppose you are researching the effects of social media on adolescent
mental health. Your search strategy might look like this:
• Keywords: Social media, adolescent, mental health, depression, anxiety.
• Boolean Search: (Social media OR Facebook OR Twitter OR Instagram) AND
(adolescent OR teenager OR youth) AND (mental health OR depression OR
anxiety).
• Databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar.
• Filters: Articles published in the last 10 years, peer-reviewed journals,
English language.
• Review Process: Skim through abstracts, access full texts, use citation
tracking to find additional sources.
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15. For a comprehensive and effective literature search in pharmacy research
Utilize a variety of resources, including specialized databases, journals,
and tools.
What can be referred for a good literature search in pharmacy research?
• Specialized Databases and Search Engines
• PubMed: A comprehensive resource for biomedical literature, including
pharmacy-related studies. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
• Embase: Offers extensive coverage of biomedical literature, including drug
research and pharmacology.(https://www.elsevier.com/en-
in/products/embase)
• Scopus: A large abstract and citation database that covers a broad range of
scientific disciplines, including
pharmacy.(https://www.scopus.com/home.uri)
• Tip: Use Scopus to find citation information and track how often an article has been
cited.
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16. For a comprehensive and effective literature search in pharmacy research
cont-
• Google Scholar: A freely accessible search engine that indexes the full text
or metadata of scholarly literature across various formats and disciplines.
• ClinicalTrials.gov: A database of privately and publicly funded clinical
studies conducted around the world.
• Tip: Search for ongoing or completed clinical trials related to pharmacy.
• Cochrane Library: Contains high-quality, independent evidence to inform
healthcare decision-making, including systematic reviews in
pharmacy.(https://www.cochranelibrary.com/)
• Tip: Use it for meta-analyses and systematic reviews on pharmacy-related
topics.
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17. Key Journals in Pharmacy Research
• Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
• International Journal of Pharmacy Practice
• Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug
Therapy
• Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
• Pharmacy Practice
• International Journal of Pharmaceutics
Etc.
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18. The Orange Book
• The Orange Book can be used as a reference material.
• The Orange Book, officially titled Approved Drug Products with
Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, is a publication by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) that lists all FDA-approved drug
products. It provides essential information about each drug, such as
ingredients, dosages, and labeling.
• The Orange Book is often used by researchers, pharmaceutical
companies, and healthcare professionals to verify the safety and
efficacy of drugs. You can consult the Orange Book online or purchase
a printed copy through the FDA website or a bookstore.
(https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-approval-process-
drugs/orange-book-preface)
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19. Patent databases
• Patent databases can be a valuable resource for referencing.
• Patent databases, such as the United States Patent and Trademark
Office's (USPTO) Patent Full-Text and Image Database or the European
Patent Office's (EPO)
• Patent Database, provide comprehensive and authoritative
information on patented inventions.
• These databases can be used to research existing patents, identify
potential applications, and determine the feasibility of new ideas.
Additionally, patent databases can be used to identify prior art, which
can help in determining the novelty and non-obviousness of an
invention.
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20. Professional Organizations and Their Resources
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
• American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
• International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
• European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP)
• These organizations often provide access to specialized publications,
guidelines, and position statements.
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21. Reference Management Tools
• EndNote: Helps you organize references and create bibliographies.
• Zotero: Free and open-source tool for managing bibliographic data
and related research materials.
• Mendeley: Reference manager and academic social network that can
help you organize your research, collaborate with others online, and
discover the latest research.
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22. Additional Tips for an Effective Literature Search
• Develop a Clear Research Question: Clearly define what you are looking for to
guide your search strategy.
• Use Boolean Operators: Refine your searches using AND, OR, and NOT to
combine or exclude keywords.
• Apply Filters: Narrow your search results by using filters such as publication date,
type of study, and language.
• Search for Reviews and Meta-Analyses: These can provide comprehensive
overviews of research on a particular topic and point you toward primary
research articles.
• Follow Citation Trails: Use the references in key papers to find additional relevant
studies. Tools like Web of Science and Scopus can help track citation trails.
• Set Alerts: Many databases allow you to set up alerts for new publications on
your topic of interest.
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23. Happy and fruitful research journey ahead -
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