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Introduction to Literature Search

This guide is intended to provide you with the basic skills necessary to search for literature. The skills are presented broadly and can be applied across all databases.

Reference Management

There are a number of different options available for managing your references. The citation management tool RefWorks is available to all members of the QU community. On this page, you will find tips and suggestions for organizing and managing your references throughout the research process.

RefWorks - Citation Management

About RefWorks

RefWorks: an online research management, writing and collaboration tool -- is designed to help researchers easily gather, manage, store and share all types of information, as well as generate citations and bibliographies. 

QU now offers access to the newest version of RefWorks, known as ProQuest RefWorks. Click here to learn more about this updated version of our favorite reference management tool.

Documenting your search

Documenting your searches will help you:

  • stay organized 
  • keep track of your searching progress -- will keep you from repeating any unproductive searches
  • reuse successful search strategies
  • explain your search process in your paper

Adapted from Medical University of South Carolina Library's Literature Reviews (Health Sciences)

Below is a list of items that you should document as a means of keeping track of your process as well as staying organized. Depending on the type of paper you are writing --such as a systematic review-- you may be need to include these items within your manuscript as well.

  • Databases searched --including the platform
  • Grey literature sources searched
  • Date(s) the searches were run
  • Limits/filters applied to the searches
  • Description of the search strategy
  • The number of results from each search strategy
  • Reproducible database searches

Evidence Tables

Keep your search results organized by using an evidence tables to breakdown the components of your sources. Acting as a summary of important information, the contents of your evidence table can highlight underlying similarities or differences to illustrate trends in your data and/or support the next steps of your research.

The amount of categories that an evidence table has can vary although most tend to have between six and seven in total. They can include the following:

  • Title
  • Author and date
  • Journal 
  • Study design type/type of study
  • Purpose of study
  • Number of participants in the study
  • Study findings
  • Limitations 
  • Comments

Evidence Table Example

Jackson, D. , Davison, I. , Adams, R. , Edordu, A. and Picton, A. (2019), A systematic review of supervisory relationships in general practitioner training. Med Educ. doi:10.1111/medu.13897

Keeping track of your searches and results will make it easier to retrieve and cite sources.

Tracking searches and saving results in databases

For the databases that allow you to track your searches and save results, you will need to create an individual account. These accounts are FREE to create and use. If you are being asked to submit a payment to create an account in any of our databases, please contact the Netter Library. 

Below are just a few examples of databases that will allow you to create a free individual account to track and save results:

Assessment Tools: PRISMA

PRISMA -- screening tool

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyzes 

An evidence based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta analyzes, specifically randomized trials. PRISMA can also ve used as a basis for reporting systematic reviews of other types of research.

Reporting Guidelines & Checklists

In 2015, EQUATOR created a simple flow chart to help authors, editors and peer reviewers find the most appropriate checklist and reporting guideline.