Conducting a Literature Review

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Tuesday Aug 25, 2011. Spencer Jardine.

   How to determine what’s been written on your topic and which resources will help you.

Resources to Explore

• WorldCat: world catalog. Library Home page -> Find & Explore -> more -> Databases - Alphabetic Listing -> WorldCat
• Dissertation & Theses & database. Library Home page -> ... Databases - Alphabetic Listing -> ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I
• Google Books: more general
• Google Scholar: more academics
• Library Catalog. Try for thesis search:
  • thesis "idaho state"
  • Masters theses Idaho State University. Dept. of Physics
  • Dissertations, Academic Idaho State University. Dept. of Physics
  • can narrow results by selecting "limit these results"
• Subject databases:

  http://www.isu.edu/library/research/subjects.shtml

• Specialized search tools and indexes, such as the following: (Library Home page -> ... Databases - Alphabetic Listing -> ...)
  • Web of Science
  • Biosis Previews
  • JSTOR
  • MLA International Bibliography
  • See the Resources by Subject pages on the Library website

Conducting a Literature Review: Selected Resources

• Library Home page -> Library Quick Links -> Help & FAQ -> Contacting Literature Review
• See also: http://www.isu.edu/library/help/literaturereview.shtml
• Provide information and links to organizing and writing a literature review.
• List some books in ISU Library on writing a literature review.