Literature ReviewLiterature Review

AgendaAgenda

• What is a Literature Review?What is a Literature Review?

• Literature Review Components.Literature Review Components.

• Key Databases.Key Databases.

• Internet as a Source of Info.Internet as a Source of Info.

What is a Literature Review?What is a Literature Review?

• Comprehensive collection of information Comprehensive collection of information based on a construct.based on a construct.

• Means of justifying a research question.Means of justifying a research question.

What’s The Point?What’s The Point?

• The current knowledge base.The current knowledge base.

• Support for the question.Support for the question.

• Questions still unanswered.Questions still unanswered.

• Opportunity for ideas.Opportunity for ideas.

• Never complete – only a snapshot.Never complete – only a snapshot.

How Do I Start?How Do I Start?

• SPECIFY a topic of interest.SPECIFY a topic of interest.

• Easier to induct than deduct.Easier to induct than deduct.

• Ensures quality if using narrow focus.Ensures quality if using narrow focus.

Sources of IdeasSources of Ideas

• Common Sense – does the early bird Common Sense – does the early bird truly get the worm?truly get the worm?

• Observations – the role of “serendipity” – Observations – the role of “serendipity” – Pavlov’s dogs.Pavlov’s dogs.

• Theories – Descriptions of “facts” that Theories – Descriptions of “facts” that organize and explain phenomena. organize and explain phenomena.

• Also generates new knowledge - Also generates new knowledge - additional hypotheses. additional hypotheses.

Sources of Ideas Sources of Ideas

• PAST RESEARCH – theory/hypothesis PAST RESEARCH – theory/hypothesis generation based on past results.generation based on past results.

VocabularyVocabulary

• Develop a listing of all words that could Develop a listing of all words that could represent your construct:represent your construct:

• ““Cats” – cat, feline, kitten, Siamese, pets, Cats” – cat, feline, kitten, Siamese, pets, animalsanimals

• Also be sure to consider plural words and Also be sure to consider plural words and alternate spellings.alternate spellings.

• Orthopedic, orthopedics, orthopaedicsOrthopedic, orthopedics, orthopaedics

Where Do I Look?Where Do I Look?

• Learn your databases – Pub Med, Current Learn your databases – Pub Med, Current Contents Connect, Psych Info, etc.Contents Connect, Psych Info, etc.

• Learn your journals – Journal of Vocational Learn your journals – Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, Journal of Applied Rehabilitation, Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, Journal of Rehabilitation Counseling, Journal of Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Counseling Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Rehabilitation Education, RehabPro, Bulletin, Rehabilitation Education, RehabPro, Rehabilitation Psychology, Journal of Rehabilitation Psychology, Journal of Counseling and Development, etc.Counseling and Development, etc.

Where To LookWhere To Look

• Meet your librarians.Meet your librarians.

• Attend the FREE library classes offered Attend the FREE library classes offered throughout the semester.throughout the semester.

• Ask the professors and Ph.D. students.Ask the professors and Ph.D. students.

Using The DatabasesUsing The Databases

• All databases are different in some shape All databases are different in some shape or form – most upgrade regularly.or form – most upgrade regularly.

• When first using, access the HELP or When first using, access the HELP or GUIDE option.GUIDE option.

What Details?What Details?

• Booleans – using the AND, OR, and NOT Booleans – using the AND, OR, and NOT functions.functions.

• Truncation – using a portion of a word to Truncation – using a portion of a word to locate all similar words. locate all similar words.

• Ex. – rehab*Ex. – rehab*• Be careful though….Be careful though….• Ex. – ortho* could pick up orthopedics, Ex. – ortho* could pick up orthopedics,

orthodontics, orthodoxorthodontics, orthodox

More DetailsMore Details

• Nesting – the combination of Booleans Nesting – the combination of Booleans and truncationand truncation

• Example – (foot OR feet) AND diabet*Example – (foot OR feet) AND diabet*

• Phrase Searching – using quotations to Phrase Searching – using quotations to find specific phrases – “functional impact find specific phrases – “functional impact of disability”of disability”

How Much Info Is Good How Much Info Is Good Enough?Enough?

• Depending on your topic’s specificity, the Depending on your topic’s specificity, the info you need to cover may vary.info you need to cover may vary.

• Attempt to find the most recent literature Attempt to find the most recent literature available.available.

• Again, a lit review is never complete.Again, a lit review is never complete.

The DatabasesThe Databases

• Focus on Pub Med and Current Contents Focus on Pub Med and Current Contents Connect (CCC).Connect (CCC).

• The number of databases that will The number of databases that will provide info specifically for your topic of provide info specifically for your topic of interest will vary on subject matter.interest will vary on subject matter.

E-JournalsE-Journals

• Full-text articles via the library web site.Full-text articles via the library web site.

• HTML and PDF format – it is advisable HTML and PDF format – it is advisable to select PDF format if given the option.to select PDF format if given the option.

• Not every journal is available in full-text, Not every journal is available in full-text, which means we still have to go to the which means we still have to go to the library sometimes.library sometimes.

• http://www.library.health.ufl.edu/

Pub MedPub Med

• Pub Med (formerly MedLine) – difficult Pub Med (formerly MedLine) – difficult but comprehensive.but comprehensive.

• Lots of bells and whistles.Lots of bells and whistles.

• http://www.library.health.ufl.edu/

CCCCCC

• Current Contents Connect – most up-to-Current Contents Connect – most up-to-date.date.

• Also connected to Web of Science and the Also connected to Web of Science and the Journal Citation Report.Journal Citation Report.

• http://www.library.health.ufl.edu/

Reference ManagerReference Manager

• Not a database, but can be used while Not a database, but can be used while searching Pub Med.searching Pub Med.

• Creation of reference pages by entering Creation of reference pages by entering each source in APA format for you.each source in APA format for you.

• Unfortunately, the software is costly and Unfortunately, the software is costly and it’s best to find someone who has it it’s best to find someone who has it already.already.

• http://www.refman.com/

Accessing The InternetAccessing The Internet

Research ImplicationsResearch Implications

Web SearchingWeb Searching

• Using the Internet to educate/research.Using the Internet to educate/research.

• Five major issues need to be addressed Five major issues need to be addressed when using web sources for research.when using web sources for research.

AccuracyAccuracy

• How valid is the information – was it How valid is the information – was it done by a professional in the field or by done by a professional in the field or by someone with Netscape Composer?someone with Netscape Composer?

AuthorityAuthority

• What are the author’s qualification for What are the author’s qualification for providing the information?providing the information?

ObjectivityObjectivity

• Was there bias and/or persuasion in the Was there bias and/or persuasion in the information?information?

CurrencyCurrency

• Is the information still accurate or up-to-Is the information still accurate or up-to-date as it may (or may not say) it is?date as it may (or may not say) it is?

CoverageCoverage

• Great info or does it scratch the surface Great info or does it scratch the surface of the topic – is this good stuff or filler?of the topic – is this good stuff or filler?

Web Site Reliability ResourcesWeb Site Reliability Resources

• When in doubt, use the following sites to When in doubt, use the following sites to offer assistance in determining offer assistance in determining reliability:reliability:

• http://www2.widener.edu/wolfgrammemoriallibrary/webevaluation/inform.htm

• http://info.wlu.ca/~wwwlib/libguides/internet/eval.html

Sounds Too Risky…Sounds Too Risky…

• Validity and reliability threats – seek Validity and reliability threats – seek PEER-REVIEWED journal articles.PEER-REVIEWED journal articles.

• Critiqued for weaknesses prior to Critiqued for weaknesses prior to publishing – in theory provides best info.publishing – in theory provides best info.

• Consider journal rating.Consider journal rating.