Literature reviews, electronic sources, literature searching and handling

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Literature reviews, electronic sources,
literature searching and handling
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Session objectives

•  The aim of this session is to outline
• The role of the literature review in relation to
  a Postgraduate dissertation
• The relationship of the literature review to the
  evidence base
• To demonstrate access to some relevant electronic
  information sources
• To highlight the transferable principles of
  information finding, search strategy formulation
  and refinement.
• To enable you to be better able to plan, execute
  and write-up the literature review element of
  your dissertation.

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Role of the literature review

•  The literature review is the means by which we
  establish what is already known and recorded
  about our chosen research topic.
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Important Aspects of the literature review

• It is a well-argued and critical evaluation of a
  particular issue or problem. Demonstration of
  criticality is one aspect of the M level
  criteria.
• It reveals width and depth in the reading of
  relevant and appropriate literature.
• It is clearly written and follows the conventions
  of bibliographic reporting
• It provides the theoretical frameworks which you
  will employ in your research
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Important Aspects of the literature review

•  A Literature Review always has a focus on an
  issue and the role of the review is to help you
  formulate a stance towards that issue.
• Do remember that a review of the literature is a
  coherent piece of work. In its own way it tells
  a story. It should lead the reader through the
  analysis and arguments for and against, in a way
  which makes sense.

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Relationship to the research evidence base

•  The literature review is part of your evidence
  base
• It will inform your choice of research approach
  so should be initially undertaken early in the
  research process
• It should continue until the dissertation is
  complete, especially in fast moving fields
• It sits alongside evidence which you generate via
  research methodologies
• Your research findings must be matched back to
  the theory

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Information Formats

• Print sources
• Pointing tools Abstracts Indexes
• Electronic sources
• Full text
• e journals
• Access
• Passwords

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Information Sources

• Encyclopedias
• Dictionaries
• Newspapers (full text)
• Statistics
• Electronic References (LRD web pages)

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Search strategy

• Define topic identifying key words
• Think of alternative terms you may need to use
• Consider language e.g. American spelling
• Truncation
• Combining terms AND, OR, NOT

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Accessing Electronic Resources
Electronic Journals
On-line databases
Search for title on OPAC and select Online
Journal option. A password may be required which
can be obtained from your College Librarians.
Access the Athens web page www.athens.ac.uk or
use the Online Databases link from the LRD web
page
Use your Athens user names and password to login
Access the Electronic journals link from the LRD
web pages www.hope.ac.uk/lib/lrd.htm
Select database to use Emerald Computer
Abstracts. Web of Science Expanded Academic Index
Access via Athens, e.g. Swetswise
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Athens Authentication

• Gateway to electronic resources
• Personalised login
• User Name lhuIDNo
• Password IDNo_lhu
• Where IDNo is the number from your Hope ID card
  without the 1
• E.g. 123456-1 would be lhu123456

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Relevant sources

• We will demonstrate the following
• Computer Abstracts (Emerald)
• Web of Science
• Expanded Academic Index
• Electronic journals

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Internet

• Vast resource but no review/referee system
• Factors to consider when evaluating internet
  sources
• The target audience
• Purpose of web page
• Completeness accuracy of links information

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Internet (2)

• Who is the author/producer are they reliable?
• What authority expertise do they carry?
• Any evidence of bias?
• When was the site produced, is it kept up to
  date?
• Always keep a hard copy of the page as evidence
  of its existence contents

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Where to start?

• Search engines
• Subject gateways
• Hope LRD web pages
• OPAC
• Subject pages
• Electronic journals

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Identifying materials relevant for your research
Identify your topic area and key search terms
Identify research and information sources
Formulate search strategy accordingly
Undertake search
Too much retrieval
Insufficient retrieval
Refiine/ Make the search more specific
Refine, i.e. Make the search wider
Search again
Document fully
Sift, sort, and weight
Exclude
Include
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Following up identified references
Check IOM Library Catalogue
Item present
Item not present
Is item available?
Apply for via the material delivery Service
Check Liverpool Hope Catalogue (OPAC)
No Place reservation
Yes Find material on shelves and loan
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Time management expectations

• The process of literature searching takes time
  usually more time than people expect
• When you have identified material it may not be
  immediately available
• No one information provider can possess
  everything that a researcher requires

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Latest information, expectations and support

• The Hope LRD web pages provide the latest
  information on opening times, personnel, services
• Material delivery
• Books
• Journal articles/book chapters
• Online Help slots
• Access to other information providers

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• Any questions?