1.Conducting a Literature ReviewCIE 1001
Presented by
Monique Flaccavento
OISE Library
March 3, 2010

2. Agenda
Part I
Concept of a literature review
Developing a research plan (steps in the research process)
3. Agenda
Part II
tips and tricks for searching the UTL catalogue more effectively
locating a variety of materials (books, journals, theses, government documents, etc.)
4. Agenda
printing / emailing / exporting to RefWorks
ILL / ICD
Liaison Librarians
5. 15 Minute Break
6. Agenda
Part III
database selection & research guides
finding e-resources:journal articles, theses and dissertations, conference papers
cited reference searching (Web of Knowledge; Scopus)
7. Agenda
how to determine whether a periodical is peer-reviewed
time for personal research / questions
8. Objective
To develop the skills you will need to conduct more thorough, systematic literature searches
9. What is a literature review?
an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers
Dena Taylor,
Health Sciences Writing Centre,
University of Toronto
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/literature-review
10. What is a literature review?
A review is a required part of grant and research proposals and often a chapter in theses and dissertations.
The Writing Centre,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html
11. What is a literature review?
[It] may be a self-contained unit -- an end in itself -- or a preface to and rationale for engaging in primary research.
The Writing Centre,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html
12. What is a literature review?
a piece of discursive prose, not a list describing or summarizing one piece of literature after another
Dena Taylor,
Health Sciences Writing Centre,
University of Toronto
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/literature-review
13. What is its purpose?
Generally, the purpose of a review is to analyze critically a segment of a published body of knowledge through summary, classification, and comparison of prior research studies, reviews of literature, and theoretical articles.
The Writing Centre,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html
14. What is its purpose?
The literature review helps a researcher identify gaps in a body of knowledge
worthy of further research.
15. How does it differ from an essay?
the main focus of an academic research paper is to support your own argument
The Writing Centre
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html
16. What is its purpose?
The literature review:
summarizes and evaluates existing knowledge on a particular topic.Its purpose is to produce a position on the state of that knowledge; this is the thesis
Machi, Lawrence A. & Brenda T. McEvoy. (2009).
The Literature review: Six steps to success.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin,p. 2
17. How does it differ from an essay?
the focus of a literature review is to summarize and synthesize the arguments and ideas of others.
The Writing Centre
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html
18. The Research Process
1.Identify your topic.Formulate a clear research question.
2.Identify keywords and descriptors or subject headings.
3.Make a list of the catalogues, databases / indexes, and websites you plan to search.
19. Sample Topic
Impact of immigrationpolicies in Canada on youth
20. Key Concepts and Synonyms
21. The Research Process
4.Search:
library catalogues (for books, encyclopaedias, reports, journals, theses, etc.)
article databases available through UTL (such as ERIC, PsycInfo, PAIS International, Source OECD); Data Library site
22. The Research Process
Theses (catalogue, T-Space, Dissertations and Theses: Full-Text, AMICUS (LAC))
CIDEC R&D Database (http://cide.oise.utoronto.ca/database.php)
Google Scholar
Websites Government, United Nations organizations, etc.
23. The Research Process
5. Refine, focus, or expand your topic as well as your keywords and descriptors
6. Scan the literature and critically appraise sources to determine which are the most relevant to your research.
7. Revise / refine your topic
24. Ask Questions
Who is the author? Is he / she a respected and / or well-cited scholar in the field?
Use a citation index such as Scopus, Web of Knowledge, or even Google Scholar to help you determine which articles are seminal works in your field.
25. Ask Questions
Is the author of the website a reputable organization / individual?How current is the information?When was it last updated?
Are the research methods employed sound?
Is there bias in the article?
26. Ask Questions
Has the article / study been published in a scholarly / academic / peer-reviewed journal?
Has the book been published by a reputable publisher?
27. Tips
Check your course outline for a list of well-respected CIDE journals
Search Ulrichs Periodicals Directory to determine if a journal is scholarly (refereed)
Some databases allow you to limit your searches to peer-reviewed / scholarly articles
28. Try not to exclude articles which are contrary to your point of view.
29. Literature searches are often interdisciplinary, and should not be limited to current research on a topic.
30. Catalogue Searches
http://www.library.utoronto.ca
http://www.library.utoronto.ca/oise
31. Catalogue Searches
VandraMasemann(author)
VandraMaseman (author)
woman
colour
immigra*; policy (within results)
32. Catalogue Searches
Statistics women Harare
Economics of Education Review (Title)
Economic of Education Review (Title)
women thesis
33. Catalogue Searches
muslim and (youth or adolescent* or teen*) and canad*
English
aboriginals Canada
immigration
34. Article Finder
Comparative and International Education: A Journey toward Equality and Equity
Stromquist, Nelly P.
Harvard Eduational Review
2005, Vol. 75, Issue 1, pp. 89 --
35. Another excellent resource is:
Machi, Lawrence A. & Brenda T. McEvoy. (2009). The Literature review: Six steps to success.Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
(call number 001.4 M149L).
1 copy of this book is available on short term loan at the OISE Library (Available at the Circulation Desk).
36. Were here to help!
In person:at the Reference Desk
By phone: 416-978-1860
By email:askeloise@oise.utoronto.ca
Via live chat:askON
Or, book an in-depth reference consultation
37. Or, book an in-depth consultation
Monique Flaccavento
416-978-1867
monique.flaccavento@utoronto.ca
38. Questions?
39. Thank you!