Library Induction sessions, October 2013

1. www.le.ac.uk/librarywww.le.ac.uk
Introduction to literature searching
Selina Lock & Helen Steele
Research Information Advisors
David Wilson Library
Adapted, with permission, from materials created by
Loughborough University

2. Sources of research information –
what do you expect to use?
In pairs, please discuss:
• The different types of publications, or
sources of research information, that are most
important for research in your subject area?

4. Why is literature searching important?

5. Searching
Please complete the
‘Finding information
questionnaire’

6. Possible search strategies:
• Serendipity
• Recommendation
• Following references
• Citation searching
• Keyword searching
• Systematic reviews
• Alerts

7. Planning a keyword
search strategy
1. Define your
topic
2. Keywords &
how to
combine them
3. Identify
limits and
scope
4. Types of
publication
5. Where to
search
6. Searching
(Conducting your lit search)
8. Choosing
what to read
(Critical Reading)
9. Managing your
references
(Bibliographic software)
7. Evaluating
& refining
(Conducting your lit search)

8. How to select databases to search…
 My subject page/s.
 Recommendations from supervisor & peers.
 Check database page for information on what
the database covers.
 Do a trial search to see if it bring back useful
results.

9. Further Help
• The library’s Research Services team are
available to help
• E: libstem@le.ac.uk (Science & Medicine)
• E: liblass@le.ac.uk (Arts & Social Sciences)
– Visit the Graduate School Reading Room on
weekday afternoons, 2-4pm
• Planning your literature search (1 hr)
• Conducting your literature search (1 hr)