literature search
Finding published research
A literature search is a systematic effort to find published works on a particular topic, typically conducted as groundwork for academic research or professional projects.
Researchers perform literature searches to discover what has already been written, identify gaps in existing knowledge, and build on previous findings.
Before starting her dissertation, she conducted an extensive literature search on climate migration.
The process traditionally involved library catalogs and indexes but now relies heavily on electronic databases and search engines.
List of cited works
- citationsAcknowledged source mentions
- referencesSources cited for verification
- cross-referencingVerifying by consulting elsewhere
- deduplicationEliminating redundant copies
annotation · tagging · folders · libraries · export
Periodicals or personal logs
- articlesWritten works or items
- abstractsCondensed versions of documents
- peer-reviewedEvaluated by field experts
- publicationsWorks issued to readers
scholarly · monographs · dissertations · theses · preprints · white papers · primary sources · review articles
Research literature database
- Google ScholarAcademic publication search engine
- ProQuestAcademic research database service
Combined study statistics
- data extractionRetrieving information from sources
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- eligibilityState of meeting criteria
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
Symbols joining truth values
- keywordsImportant identifying words
- truncationCutting something shorter
- wildcardsUnpredictable factors or elements
- filtersSelective passage barriers
limiters · retrieval · query · snowballing · alerts
Including all elements
- exhaustiveCovering all possibilities
- systematicFollowing ordered procedures
- rigorousExtremely thorough and careful
- thoroughComplete in every detail
replicable · transparent · documented · up-to-date · sensitivity · specificity · precision · recall
bibliography
List of cited works
- citationsAcknowledged source mentions
- referencesSources cited for verification
- cross-referencingVerifying by consulting elsewhere
deduplication · annotation · tagging · folders · libraries · export
journals
Periodicals or personal logs
- articlesWritten works or items
- abstractsCondensed versions of documents
- peer-reviewedEvaluated by field experts
publications · scholarly · monographs · dissertations · theses · preprints · white papers · primary sources · review articles
Web of Science
Research literature database
- Google ScholarAcademic publication search engine
- ProQuestAcademic research database service
meta-analysis
Combined study statistics
- data extractionRetrieving information from sources
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- eligibilityState of meeting criteria
Boolean operators
Symbols joining truth values
- keywordsImportant identifying words
- truncationCutting something shorter
- wildcardsUnpredictable factors or elements
filters · limiters · retrieval · query · snowballing · alerts
comprehensive
Including all elements
- exhaustiveCovering all possibilities
- systematicFollowing ordered procedures
- rigorousExtremely thorough and careful
thorough · replicable · transparent · documented · up-to-date · sensitivity · specificity · precision · recall · publication bias
literature searchoriginal research
Newly conducted investigation
primary research · empirical research · fieldwork · laboratory research · data collection
literature searchdirect observation
Watching something personally occur
field observation · eyewitness account · lived experience · anecdotal evidence · intuition
literature, search, literal, literally, literalness, literary, literate, literacy, illiterate