Literature searching and reviewing*

1. Literature searching and reviewing* Learning outcomes • State different types of literature • State different activities involved in literature search and review * Materials adapted from Jan Anderson

2. Outline • Literature search and review • Purpose of the literature review • Literature types • Search preparation and planning • Search management • Finding relevant literature • Interlibrary loans • Literature reviewing – do’s and don’ts

3. Literature search • A Literature search is ………..………….. a systematic and planned search for literature on a topic under investigation using all available bibliographic tools and informed sources, including experts in the field. Often used to produce a literature review

4. Literature search (continued) • Areas to search • The literature relevant to your chosen topic • The literature on measurement (including data collection), design and analysis • Searching across areas of psychology provides insight and broader understanding of the topic and relevant methods

5. Purpose of the literature review • Informs and shapes your research ideas • Enables you to make a positive contribution to psychology • Will help you identify work already carried out or in progress that is relevant • Will prevent you from duplicating what has already been done • Will help you avoid some of the pitfalls and errors of previous research • Will help you develop the research question(s) for your project by identifying the key issues and techniques for measurement, design and analysis best suited to your topic • Will enable you to find gaps in existing research, thereby giving you a unique topic

6. Types of literature - books • Books: are useful but may not be the most up-to-date source of material; however, a great place to start • The LIS collection should contain some books on your chosen topic – these will provide background information and inform you about the major theorists and theories, including typical research ‘paradigms’ (e.g. tasks and data collection techniques) • Research methods books will inform you about your options for measurement, design and analysis

7. Finding books • The LIS online catalogue – use keywords • Look at the book shelves • Ask the librarians • Use the LIS fact sheets (06, 03) • Annotated bibliographies can be invaluable for developing a research proposal; however, they (frequently) do not include the most recent research • Also part of next week’s practical

8. Types of literature: peer-reviewed journal papers • A peer-reviewed journal publishes papers (‘articles’), written by academics and reviewed by academics • Available both in print in the LIS collection and in electronic journals (online) through the LIS web site • Familiarise yourself with the titles that are held by LIS • Familiarise yourself with print journals in the library and explore the ones that you think may be relevant to your chosen topic – make sure you keep up-to-date with each new issue published • Electronic versions – your search only finds what you ask it to find – be creative • Review papers can be invaluable for developing a research proposal; however, they (frequently) do not include the most recent research • Key journals that publish review papers: Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Psychological Review, Psychological Bulletin, Annual Review of Psychology

9. Other types of literature • Statistics – many statistics are published which may be relevant to your project, for example www.statistics.gov.uk - online statistics published by the government • Theses – LIS keeps theses of postgraduate (e.g. PhD) projects carried out at the university • Grey literature – reports published by organisations which may be relevant to your area of investigation; many reports are held in the LIS collection, for example the Home Office and voluntary organisations

10. Preparation before a search • Spend time in the library • Look at general text books • Look at journals • Familiarise yourself with the library layout • Consider extending your reading beyond psychology • As you read, make notes on what you have found and where you have found it • Why?

11. Preparation and planning for a search • By now you should • be able to identify the major theorists, academics and researchers who write about your chosen area • be aware of the appropriate journal titles and search engines for your given topic • How do you plan? • Planning takes time-management skills, organisation skills and logic • How do you do it?

12. Documenting searches • Each time you search, document in your research diary… • Which database you used • The date of your search • Which search terms you used • Any restrictions you used (such are date restrictions) • Any articles found that you feel are relevant; save the information or email it to yourself and add it to your research index

13. Indexing your research • The only way to stay on top of your research is to develop a system of indexing what you have found • Index cards (easy to cross-reference and order) • Computerised record sheets (can be cross-referenced and ordered) • Notebook – good but needs to then be transferred to orderable system • Find the method that will work best for you, but use some kind of system! • Literature searching is part of next week’s practical

14. You found some publications – what do you do with them? • A Literature review is ………… …… critical evaluation and appraisal of work, including research, theory and argument in a given subject field on a particular topic usually undertaken for a graduate dissertation to show an understanding of the field, the ability to criticise appropriately and often to show the need for further research

15. Reviewing the literature • Use a summary sheet or whatever works for you to document the most important and relevant parts of each article, book or other literature you read • A summary sheet should include: • The reference • The theory/standpoint they take • The evidence they provide for their argument • The methods they use • The type of analysis • The main arguments • The core citations (leads you onto other works) • Which aspect of your research proposal it informs (e.g. design) • Internal-, external- and construct validity, reliability, reflexivity (where appropriate)

16. Most important: organisation of the write-up • Relatively brief review of relevant literature, structured to support the research question(s) • Locke et al. (2000, pp. 68-74, 76-77): • based on a general research questions, followed by a specific hypothesis through which the question will be answered as a frame of reference if appropriate • around ‘concepts’ (statements) that justify the hypothesis/es (or otherwise the research question(s)) • Use APA writing style to present information consistently and clearly • Make sure you get it right • APA publication manual (5th edition) • http://www.apastyle.org/

17. Checklist of do’s for reviewing • Manage the information that your review produces; have systematic records • Identify and discuss the relevant key/landmark studies on the topic • Include as much up-to-date material as possible • Check the details (get the names right!) • Try to be reflexive; examine your own bias and make it clear • Critically evaluate the material and show your analyses • Use extracts and illustrative examples to justify your analyses and argument • Be analytical, evaluative and critical – show this in your review • Make your review worth reading by making it clear, systematic and coherent – explain why the topic is interesting

18. Checklist of dont’s for reviewing • Drown in information by not keeping control and/or an accurate record of materials • Omit classic works and landmark studies • Discuss core ideas without proper reference • Discuss outdated or only old material • Misspell names or get dates wrong • Use concepts to impress without definition • Use jargon or discriminatory language to justify a parochial argument • Produce a list of items (a list is not a review!) • Accept any position at face value or believe everything that is written • Only produce a description of the content of what you have read • Make silly mistakes, for example orgasm in place of organism! • Be boring by using jargon and/or pretentious language

19. Summary • Literature search • Types of literature • Preparing, planning, documenting, indexing • Literature review • Documenting • Advice

20. Bibliography • American Psychology Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychology Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. • Hart, C. (2001). Doing a literature search. London: Sage. • Hart, C. (2001). Doing a literature review. London: Sage. • Locke, L., Spirduso, W. & Silverman, S. (2000). Proposals that work : A guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals. London: Sage. Includes examples of experimental, qualitative and quasi-experimental proposals • Punch, K. (2000). Developing effective research proposals. London: Sage. • Social Science Information Gateway (no date). Internet psychologist. Retrieved 12/12/2005 from the World Wide Web: http://www.vts.rdn.ac.uk/tutorial/psychologist [A free, ‘teach yourself’ tutorial that lets you practise your Internet Information Skills.]