The Importance of Literature Search

• Literature search involves an exhaustive and systematic search for published information on a topic using bibliographic tools.
• It is an initial step in a serious research project to locate existing material.

Background of Literature Search

• Various academic/scientific publications support learning, teaching, and research.
• These publications have grown with the advancement of information and communication technology.
• Literature searching is a core academic skill for learning, research projects, and other academic tasks.

Types of Publications

• Scientific/academic/scholarly publications include texts/reference books, journals (BMJ, JAMA, NEJM, The Lancet, etc.), and research reports.
• Non-scientific publications include fiction books, magazines, and newspapers.

Scientific Publications

• Aimed at the academic community and disseminate research findings.
• Articles cite resources are peer reviewed, are high quality and reliable.
• Scientific publications are slow due to the review process and access is often fee-based.

Non-Scientific Publications

• Publications are entertaining and generally relaxing to read.
• Readable and lightweight, cover current and popular issues/topics.
• These publications are not always reliable and easily replaced by newer issues

Challenges in Literature Search

• The growing quantity of publications causes issues in recall vs precision.
• Information quality can sometimes be unreliable.
• Needed information may not be readily available.
• Constraints in access due to technical, cost, and policy difficulties.

Skills in Literature Search

• Ability to identify various publications.
• Be able to use multiple search tools.
• Have the ability to conduct efficient and effective searches and strategies.
• Have skills to evaluate the quality of the information in the search.

Search Tools

• Catalog and web search engines.
• Utilise search terms and subject headings.
• Boolean operators, wildcard/truncation, nesting, and limits.

Catalog

• A comprehensive list of books, periodicals, maps, and materials in a given collection.
• Items are arranged in a systematic order to facilitate retrieval by author, title, and/or subject.
• Card catalogs have moved to machine-readable bibliographic records and are online.

Web Search Engine

• A search tool for finding information on the World Wide Web.
• Results presented are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits.
• The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other types of files.
• Examples include: Google and Google Scholar

Search Terms

• Search terms are also referred to as keywords.
• They can be a subject, topic, or any distinct word used as a point of access.
• Using appropriate search terms is essential in the process of searching.
• Consider brainstorming for possible search terms to represent search queries.

Subject Headings

• Are a controlled language list used to classify library material.
• They represent the key topic of a publication.
• An example is MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) by the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Boolean Logic

• Boolean logic created by George Boole (1815-64) helps users combine words/phrases of significant concepts.
• This is used when searching an online catalog or database by keywords.
• Logical commands used are AND, OR, and NOT.
• In some databases, AND operator is represented by a symbol + or is implicit.

Boolean Operator: AND

• It combines two concepts to narrow a search.
• It retrieves items containing all the search terms.
• Example: hip AND fracture retrieves items containing both terms

Boolean Operator: OR

• It broadens the search by including synonyms and related terms.
• It retrieves items containing either search term or both search terms.
• Example: renal OR kidney retrieves items containing either term

Boolean Operator: NOT

• It excludes unwanted records from search results.
• It eliminates items in the 2nd term or both terms.
• Example: pig NOT guinea eliminates items related to guinea

Grouping/Nesting

• Nesting is a searching technique that considers similar concepts.
• Concepts indicated by logical command OR and expressed in different terms.
• Examples: (fever OR febrile), (paracetamol OR acetaminophen), (kidney OR renal).

Truncation/Wildcard

• Truncation replaces a word ending with symbols in database searches.
• The symbol of truncation can be (*), (?) or ($) depending on the database.
• The result "child*" search will return documents like child, children, childhood or childcare.

Limits/Filters

• Most databases offer limit functions to narrow search results.
• Limits are commonly specified according to,
  • Date and type of publication
  • Age group
  • Language and Sex
  • Type of files

Stages in Searching

• Set your search topics and choose appropriate search terms/keywords.
• Decide where and use which sources to use to search e.g. library catalogs, online databases.
• Next step optimise search tools to develop search strategy, observe search results, and Revise the search as necessary.

Tips for Effective Searches

• Plan the search by identifying the words that represent the topic of your search.
• Avoid broad terms; use specific terms for limited but relevant results.
• Effective searches use limit/filter functions when necessary.
• Taking advantage of creating an account allows you to manage searches and set up preferences.

Doing a literature search is very important as the initial step in a research project. Literature search helps provide context, identifies gaps, and avoids duplication. It is regarded as a core academic skill for students and researchers.