Literature searching
This guide is designed to help you carry out an effective literature search, by identifying suitable resources, assessing the results you get and managing your references. It summarises information that is available in full on the library webpages.
Content
01 What is literature searching?
02 Why search the literature?
03 Can't I just use Google?
04 What else is there?
05 Devising and carrying out a search strategy
06 Evaluating your results
07 Further help
- 01 What is literature searching?
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Literature searching can be defined as a systematic and thorough search of all types of published literature in order to identify as many items as possible that are relevant to your topic.
[Back to top] - 02 Why search the literature?
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- to find information for an essay, assignment, report, dissertation, thesis, presentation or interview
- to keep up to date with the published literature
- to find out if others are doing similar research to yourself
[Back to top] - 03 Can't I just use Google?
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No, because ...
- you may have to sort through a lot of rubbish
- you won’t find all the relevant literature
- you may not be able to access the resources
[Back to top] - 04 What else is there?
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The library subscribes to a number of literature databases which contain references or links to academic, peer-reviewed material, including journal articles, book chapters, conference proceedings, technical reports, dissertations and research papers. The databases allow you to search and manage your references and cover a wide range of subjects.
All of the databases included on the following page are available both on and off campus, by using your University of Essex username and password to log in.
http://libwww.essex.ac.uk/databases.htmLook at the relevant subject page on the Library website for resources in your area.
http://libwww.essex.ac.uk/subject_resources.htm
[Back to top] - 05 Devising and carrying out a search strategy
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- allow plenty of time
- think about your topic and write down a few key words
- get to know the databases you plan to use
- keep track of your searches
[Back to top] - 06 Evaluating your results
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It is important to critically assess any results that you find in terms of purpose, currency and authority to ensure that the information you are using is appropriate and relevant to your information needs.
[Back to top] - 07 Further help
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Contact your subject librarian. A list is available at: http://libwww.essex.ac.uk/staff.htm
An expanded version of this guide is available at http://libwww.essex.ac.uk/literature_searching.htm
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