Skip to Main Content
Chat loading...

Literature Review Guide

Overview of the iterative steps involved in using library databases to search & review the scholarly literature

Using these strategies to connect your search terms will help you become more proficient at using the library databases:

  • Combining searches with AND / OR / NOT (the video below shows you how)

  • Use AND or NOT to combine different search terms to narrow your results

  • Use OR to combine different search terms to expand your result

You have access to any article that you need for your research through one of these ways:

  • the article's .PDF is contained in the database you are searching
  • by following the blue link,in the database you are searching in (OR in RefWorks)
  • If Adler Library does not have the journal article you can place an interlibrary loan request for it

All databases contain helpful limiters that you can apply to your search results list.

  • limit by publication date (within the last 3-5 years)
  • limit to peer-reviewed journal articles

 

NOTE: I do NOT recommend that you "limit to full-text" because if the .PDF of an article is not in the database you are searching, it still may be available by clicking the blue link, "Check for Full Text" or by placing an interlibrary loan request.

One of the common struggles with research is finding the sweet spot between too many or too few results

The number of database search results should ideally be under 80 to ensure you find relevant results, rather than just wading through unrelated items.

If you have too FEW results:

  • Use broader or related terms using the connector, OR. (Remember: Using OR will give you MORE results).
  • Consider combining just two of the key concepts from your Venn diagram
  • Try a different database. Maybe the database you're using is not focused on that area. Try one more suited to your topic, or try a multi-disciplinary database.

If you have too MANY results:

  • Use the database's Thesaurus to help you find subject terms and search using subject terms