power up the literature review
TRANSCRIPT
Presentation TopicP O W E R U P T H E L I T E R AT U R E R E V I E
W L I B R A RY S E M I N A R F O R M I A E P H D
Chloe Lei Teaching & Research Librarian, Engineering & Computer Science [email protected]
AGENDA
2. Where to search?
3. How to search?
4. What to read?
5. How to organize?
H O W D O E S D O I N G A L I T E R A T U R E R E V I E W
F E E L L I K E ?
S H A R E YO U R A N S W E R I N T H E C H AT B OX
HOW DOES DOING A LITERATURE REVIEW FEEL LIKE?
“lost”
“overwhelmed”
“intimidating”
“drowning”
“powerless”
“trying to swim with concrete blocks on my feet”
“tossed between currents in the sea, all pulling in different directions”
“trying to persuade an octopus into a glass”
Writing a Literature Review: Overcoming Challenges Sources:
Writing a Literature Review: Introduction Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Literature Review
• The ever-increasing output of scientific publications
• Not a one-time standalone thing, but ongoing and iterative
• Requires multiple skills (e.g. finding, evaluating, synthesizing, citing)
Sources:
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Erren, T. C., Cullen, P., & Erren, M. (2009). “How to surf today's information tsunami: on the craft of effective reading”. Medical Hypotheses, 73(3), 278–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2009.05.002
W H A T A R E S O M E C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S O F A
G O O D L I T E R A T U R E R E V I E W ?
S H A R E YO U R A N S W E R I N T H E C H AT B OX
WHAT IS IN A LITERATURE REVIEW?
Writing a Literature Review: Introduction Persuading an octopus into a glass: Working with literatures
“…In my experience, many literature reviews nowadays consist of pseudo-random lists of
papers related to the problem domain of interest, followed by a statement of what was done
in the current paper. No direction. No critical analysis of the literature. No identification of
knowledge gaps. No linking of the purpose of the current paper to these gaps…”
What constitutes a good literature review and why does its quality matter? Sources:
• The facilitation of a conversation among guests
LITERATURE REVIEW
• A critical analysis of the literature
Reconceptualizing the Task of Writing a Literature Review Sources:
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Critical thinking is not simply looking for and pointing out what is wrong in someone else’s work (critiquing it), neither is it simply providing a disjointed summary of one source after the next. Thinking back to the dinner party metaphor, if, as in the first case, the host of the party invited all of their guests over simply to criticize them, ridicule them and prevent them from talking back to each other, that would not be a very nice party. On the other hand, if the host allowed each guest only their one time slot to stand up and say a speech, one after the other, and then sit down, that would be boring and unengaging. Instead, you want your literature review to involve the facilitation of a conversation between the texts/areas of interest you have invited to the table and, if relevant, highlighting the significance of bringing together texts or areas that have not talked to each other before.
Student Resources – Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates Sources:
Presenter
PUT “CRITICAL” IN THE LITERATURE REVIEW Being critical is not just about praising or critiquing the work of others; rather, it involves several judgements along the way while writing the review, including:
• Which scholarship/scholars to be included or excluded • What aspects of their work to stress and which to downplay • Pay attention to the underlying assumptions of a text, its methodology and
findings • Be respectful and take an appreciative stance • Key question: What does this text contribute?
Reconceptualizing the Task of Writing a Literature Review Sources:
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Being critical is not just about praising or critiquing the work of others; rather, it involves several judgements along the way while writing the review, including: Which scholarship/scholars to invite to the table What aspects of their work to stress and which to downplay or ignore Pay attention to the underlying assumptions of a text, its methodology and findings Be respectful and take an appreciative stance Key question: What does this text contribute? In critically appraising a text, Wagner suggests looking for “blank spots,” and being able to differentiate these from the “blind spots” of a particular methodology or theory. A blind spot refers to something a particular theory or methodology does not do. Survey methodology, for example, can provide a broad snapshot of something that is going on, but what it cannot do is provide in-depth reasons about people’s motivations or why the answers they gave are what they are. This is the survey method’s blind spot. A research project cannot be harshly critiqued for its blind spots – or not doing what it simply did not set out to do. A blank spot, on the other hand, refers to something that a particular research project could have done but did not. If there were important questions missing on this survey, for example or if there was a flaw in the analysis of the data, this would be a blank spot that should be addressed in the reviewer’s critique. When looking for blind spots and blank spots in your critical appraisal of a piece of research, remember to avoid critiquing a project too harshly for not doing what it did not set out to do. Critical questions to ask about individual texts: What is the argument? What kind/aspect of your topic is spoken about in this article? From what position? Using what evidence? What claims are made? How adequate are these (blank spots and blind spots)? Does other literature build upon this work? Is it building upon other literatures? Water resource management example from https://ieeexplore-ieee-org.lib-ezproxy.concordia.ca/document/9214332
A list of resources on thesis and literature review writing:
https://www.concordia.ca/library/g uides/encs/engineering-writing.html
K N O W I N G W H E R E T O S E A R C H OV E RV I E W O F S E A R C H TO O L S
W H A T S E A R C H T O O L D O Y O U U S E T O F I N D
A C A D E M I C I N F O R M A T I O N ?
S H A R E YO U R A N S W E R I N T H E C H AT B OX
WHERE SHOULD YOU SEARCH?
LIBRARY DISCOVERY TOOL
T H E M A I N L I B R A RY S E A R C H TO O L
L I B R A RY D I S C OV E RY TO O L
• Front and centre on the library homepage
• A good starting point for a general search across library resources
• Answer questions such as:
o Does the library have this journal article?
o Does the library have some background/overview information on a topic?
L I B R A RY D I S C OV E RY TO O L
• A search for a broad keyword such as electronic waste
• Top results are usually scholarly books that provide introductory overview of a topic
• This is useful if you are not too familiar with a
topic
LIBRARY DATABASES
OV E R 4 0 0 O F T H E M O R G A N I Z E D B Y D I S C I P L I N E
L I B R A RY DATA B A S E S
• Content is usually more in-depth and specialized
• More options to search, expand, or refine
• Answer questions such as:
o Where can I find journal articles on a specific aspect of a topic
o How can I combine different elements/keywords in a search?
Presenter
https://library.concordia.ca/find/databases/index.php
E N G I N E E R I N G V I L L A G E A C L O S E R L O O K AT A N E N G I N E E R I N G D ATA B A S E
Compendex Inspec
GEOBASE
W H AT C O N T E N T I S I N C L U D E D ?
With a coverage of 1884 to the present, the three indexes Compendex, Inspec, and GEOBASE provide content in general engineering as well as more specialized engineering disciplines.
Presenter
Sources: https://www.elsevier.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/56378/Ei-Compendex-factsheet.pdf https://www-engineeringvillage-com.lib-ezproxy.concordia.ca/search/cvp/display.url https://www-elsevier-com.lib-ezproxy.concordia.ca/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/56407/IET-Inspec-factsheet.pdf http://www.theiet.org/resources/inspec/about/ https://www.elsevier.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/56424/Geobase-factsheet.pdf
W H AT C O N T E N T I S I N C L U D E D ?
“Publications must consist of peer-reviewed engineering content and have a publicly available description of the peer review process. Exceptions would be trade journals and some conference proceedings.”
-Engineering Village Compendex Content Policy and Selection (A checklist of 13 criteria)
Presenter
https://www-elsevier-com.lib-ezproxy.concordia.ca/solutions/engineering-village/content/selection-criteria
H OW TO AC C E S S F U L L T E X T ?
Full text may be readily available. If not, the “Find it @ Concordia” button can help check for full text availability in the library.
“Full text” button, if one exists
“Find it @ Concordia” button to check the
library’s other subscriptions. If not available,
request it via Interlibrary Loan.
I N T E R L I B R A RY L OA N
• If Concordia Library doesn’t have it, use Interlibrary Loan
• Takes a few days or longer to process depending on the item
GOOGLE SCHOL AR
T H E R E I S A WAY TO C O M B I N E L I B R A RY S E A R C H A N D G O O G L E S C H O L A R S E A R C H
Presenter
https://library.concordia.ca/help/using/google-scholar.php
L I B R A RY L I N K S I N G O O G L E S C H O L A R
• Set up Concordia University Library links in Google Scholar to make finding full text easier
• The link/button Find it @ Concrodia
• The same link/button can be found in library databases too
G O O G L E S C H O L A R
E N G I N E E R I N G V I L L AG E
K N O W I N G H O W T O S E A R C H K E Y WO R D S A N D S Y N O N Y M S
F R O M A TO P I C TO K E Y C O N C E P T S
Think through your topic before searching.
Breaking down a topic helps develop effective keywords.
Electronic waste Recycling Guiyu
Topic
How does electronic waste recycling affect citizens living in Guiyu, China?
S U B J E C T H E A D I N G S
In many databases, articles are displayed with rich metadata, including careful indexing of subject matters.
S U B J E C T H E A D I N G S
“Controlled terms” help identify synonyms and related terms.
• Makes searching more precise
• Discover other broader, narrower, or related terms
WHAT IS YOUR TOPIC AND
KEYWORDS? S H A R E I N T H E C O L L A B O R AT I V E D O C U M E N T
Presenter
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jL-JR1SUhlENhPldtz7J-lpw5lVo6XaqcH6gHfxMztQ/edit?usp=sharing
K N O W I N G W H AT T O R E A D D I F F E R E N T I N F O R M AT I O N S O U R C E S F O R D I F F E R E N T N E E D S
T Y P E S O F I N F O R M AT I O N S O U R C E S
Each source type has its specific purpose, intended audience, scope, and perspective.
Understanding the differences helps determine what to refine and focus.
Standards
MA JOR T YPES OF INFORMATION
SOURCES C O M P L E T E T H E D R A G A N D D R O P A C T I V I T Y
Presenter
Presentation Notes
http://www.concordia.ca/library/guides/encs/encs-workshop-activities.html Books provide thorough and in-depth coverage of a topic. They usually contain an overview of research or issues related to the topic. They are written and/or edited by subject experts. Conference proceedings are compilations of papers, research, and information presented at conferences, conventions, workshops, and symposia. They allow new ideas, techniques, or methodologies to be explained before official journal publications. They are more often used in science and engineering. Theses and dissertations are the result of an individual student's research while in a graduate program. They are written under the guidance and review of an academic committee but are not considered "peer-reviewed" or "refereed" publications. Journal articles generally report on the latest original research. The focus is usually quite specialized. Many of these publications are "peer reviewed" or "refereed". This means that scholars in the same field review the research and findings before the article is published. They are written by and for faculty, researchers, or other experts in a field. Standards are guidelines, specifications, codes, recommended associated with industrial, technical, or professional fields. They often stipulate performance, design requirements, operation conditions and procedures, and quality of goods and services. Trade/professional publications are written by practitioners and intended for practitioners. They communicate news and trends in a specific field but are not intended to be "scholarly". Popular sources are written by journalists or professional writers for a general audience. They are written in a language that is easy to understand by the general public. They may contain an argument, opinion, or analysis of an issue. Patents/trademarks provide protection of intellectual property. Trademarks typically protect brand names and logos used on goods and services. Patents protect inventions. Reference sources provide definitions, overviews, and summaries on various fields. They usually contain background information, key concepts, and a breakdown of major subtopics or related issues. Literature reviews survey scholarly articles, books and other sources relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory, providing a description, summary, and critical evaluation of each work.
F I LT E R A N D R E F I N E
• In Compendex (Engineering Village), there is the “Treatment” filter to limit to “General Review” or “Literature Review”
• Or just simply add “review” as a keyword
A N N UA L R E V I E W
• A publication/database that provides literature reviews in a specific area annually
• A great resource to grasp quickly major research and applications in a field
• Help keep abreast of knowledge in a familiar field or get familiarized with a new field
Presenter
A S S E S S I M PAC T
This goes beyond just searching for literature, but determining the research performance of an article, a journal, a researcher, an institution…
Answer questions such as: o What is the citation count of
an article? o What is the impact factor of a
journal? o What is the h-index of a
researcher? o What are other options to
assess research impact other than citations?
Presenter
https://library.concordia.ca/research/bibliometrics/
K N O W I N G H O W T O O R G A N I Z E M A N A G E D O C U M E N T S , C I TAT I O N S , A N D R E F E R E N C E S
SOME ADVICE • Keep track from the beginning
• Make use of a tool such as Zotero to help organize and save time
• Doing it right conveys professionalism and quality
• Always double check citations and references that were automatically generated
• Consult a librarian if unsure
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CITATION TOOL Online citation generator
Quick and on the fly
For a small number of references
No account is required
Not many citation styles to choose
Built-in features in search platforms
(e.g. Sofia, Google Scholar)
Web-based and also a downloaded software
For small and big research projects
A storage to save and organize all references
A browser extension for saving while browsing
PDF annotating and notetaking
Collaboration in group projects
Basic set-up is required
Z OT E R O
• Manage and organize sources in one place
• Save references/sources from the web browser
• Generate in-text citations and prepare the reference list automatically via a Word plugin
Z OT E R O
• Manage and organize sources in one place
• Save references/sources from the web browser
• Generate in-text citations and prepare the reference list automatically via a Word plugin
Presenter
Z OT E R O
• Manage and organize sources in one place
• Save references/sources from the web browser
• Generate in-text citations and prepare the reference list automatically via a Word plugin
Presenter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niCN72C-9XI&feature=youtu.be
H E L P & H OW- TO G U I D E S
Subject guides are available for all schools, including one for Engineering and Computer Science.
General guides cover various topics from open access journals to annotated bibliography.
Presenter
https://library.concordia.ca/help/
A S K A L I B R A R I A N
Contact the library in-person, by email, chat, or phone.
Contact your subject librarian (that’s me!)
Presenter
Review • What constitutes a good literature review and
why does its quality matter? • Literature Reviews: An Overview for Graduate
Students • Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Literature Review • Sage Research Methods Online • Engineering and Computer Science Subject Guide • User guide for Sofia • How to surf today’s information tsunami: on the
craft of effective reading
• How to set up Google Scholar to find resources available at Concordia
• Compendex (via Engineering Village) • Annual Reviews • Interlibrary Loan • Bibliometrics and Research Impact Guide • Concordia Library Standards Collection • IEEE Citation Style • Library’s Zotero Guide
Agenda
Why such a challenge?
What is in a literature review?
An observation from a prof
The dinner party metaphor
more resources on writing
Knowing Where to search
What search tool do you use to find academic information?
Where should you search?
Interlibrary loan
Google Scholar
knowing how to search
Subject headings
subject headings
Knowing what to read
Types of information sources
filter and refine
Do you use a citation tool?
Zotero
Zotero
Zotero
Chloe Lei Teaching & Research Librarian, Engineering & Computer Science [email protected]
AGENDA
2. Where to search?
3. How to search?
4. What to read?
5. How to organize?
H O W D O E S D O I N G A L I T E R A T U R E R E V I E W
F E E L L I K E ?
S H A R E YO U R A N S W E R I N T H E C H AT B OX
HOW DOES DOING A LITERATURE REVIEW FEEL LIKE?
“lost”
“overwhelmed”
“intimidating”
“drowning”
“powerless”
“trying to swim with concrete blocks on my feet”
“tossed between currents in the sea, all pulling in different directions”
“trying to persuade an octopus into a glass”
Writing a Literature Review: Overcoming Challenges Sources:
Writing a Literature Review: Introduction Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Literature Review
• The ever-increasing output of scientific publications
• Not a one-time standalone thing, but ongoing and iterative
• Requires multiple skills (e.g. finding, evaluating, synthesizing, citing)
Sources:
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Erren, T. C., Cullen, P., & Erren, M. (2009). “How to surf today's information tsunami: on the craft of effective reading”. Medical Hypotheses, 73(3), 278–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2009.05.002
W H A T A R E S O M E C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S O F A
G O O D L I T E R A T U R E R E V I E W ?
S H A R E YO U R A N S W E R I N T H E C H AT B OX
WHAT IS IN A LITERATURE REVIEW?
Writing a Literature Review: Introduction Persuading an octopus into a glass: Working with literatures
“…In my experience, many literature reviews nowadays consist of pseudo-random lists of
papers related to the problem domain of interest, followed by a statement of what was done
in the current paper. No direction. No critical analysis of the literature. No identification of
knowledge gaps. No linking of the purpose of the current paper to these gaps…”
What constitutes a good literature review and why does its quality matter? Sources:
• The facilitation of a conversation among guests
LITERATURE REVIEW
• A critical analysis of the literature
Reconceptualizing the Task of Writing a Literature Review Sources:
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Critical thinking is not simply looking for and pointing out what is wrong in someone else’s work (critiquing it), neither is it simply providing a disjointed summary of one source after the next. Thinking back to the dinner party metaphor, if, as in the first case, the host of the party invited all of their guests over simply to criticize them, ridicule them and prevent them from talking back to each other, that would not be a very nice party. On the other hand, if the host allowed each guest only their one time slot to stand up and say a speech, one after the other, and then sit down, that would be boring and unengaging. Instead, you want your literature review to involve the facilitation of a conversation between the texts/areas of interest you have invited to the table and, if relevant, highlighting the significance of bringing together texts or areas that have not talked to each other before.
Student Resources – Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates Sources:
Presenter
PUT “CRITICAL” IN THE LITERATURE REVIEW Being critical is not just about praising or critiquing the work of others; rather, it involves several judgements along the way while writing the review, including:
• Which scholarship/scholars to be included or excluded • What aspects of their work to stress and which to downplay • Pay attention to the underlying assumptions of a text, its methodology and
findings • Be respectful and take an appreciative stance • Key question: What does this text contribute?
Reconceptualizing the Task of Writing a Literature Review Sources:
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Being critical is not just about praising or critiquing the work of others; rather, it involves several judgements along the way while writing the review, including: Which scholarship/scholars to invite to the table What aspects of their work to stress and which to downplay or ignore Pay attention to the underlying assumptions of a text, its methodology and findings Be respectful and take an appreciative stance Key question: What does this text contribute? In critically appraising a text, Wagner suggests looking for “blank spots,” and being able to differentiate these from the “blind spots” of a particular methodology or theory. A blind spot refers to something a particular theory or methodology does not do. Survey methodology, for example, can provide a broad snapshot of something that is going on, but what it cannot do is provide in-depth reasons about people’s motivations or why the answers they gave are what they are. This is the survey method’s blind spot. A research project cannot be harshly critiqued for its blind spots – or not doing what it simply did not set out to do. A blank spot, on the other hand, refers to something that a particular research project could have done but did not. If there were important questions missing on this survey, for example or if there was a flaw in the analysis of the data, this would be a blank spot that should be addressed in the reviewer’s critique. When looking for blind spots and blank spots in your critical appraisal of a piece of research, remember to avoid critiquing a project too harshly for not doing what it did not set out to do. Critical questions to ask about individual texts: What is the argument? What kind/aspect of your topic is spoken about in this article? From what position? Using what evidence? What claims are made? How adequate are these (blank spots and blind spots)? Does other literature build upon this work? Is it building upon other literatures? Water resource management example from https://ieeexplore-ieee-org.lib-ezproxy.concordia.ca/document/9214332
A list of resources on thesis and literature review writing:
https://www.concordia.ca/library/g uides/encs/engineering-writing.html
K N O W I N G W H E R E T O S E A R C H OV E RV I E W O F S E A R C H TO O L S
W H A T S E A R C H T O O L D O Y O U U S E T O F I N D
A C A D E M I C I N F O R M A T I O N ?
S H A R E YO U R A N S W E R I N T H E C H AT B OX
WHERE SHOULD YOU SEARCH?
LIBRARY DISCOVERY TOOL
T H E M A I N L I B R A RY S E A R C H TO O L
L I B R A RY D I S C OV E RY TO O L
• Front and centre on the library homepage
• A good starting point for a general search across library resources
• Answer questions such as:
o Does the library have this journal article?
o Does the library have some background/overview information on a topic?
L I B R A RY D I S C OV E RY TO O L
• A search for a broad keyword such as electronic waste
• Top results are usually scholarly books that provide introductory overview of a topic
• This is useful if you are not too familiar with a
topic
LIBRARY DATABASES
OV E R 4 0 0 O F T H E M O R G A N I Z E D B Y D I S C I P L I N E
L I B R A RY DATA B A S E S
• Content is usually more in-depth and specialized
• More options to search, expand, or refine
• Answer questions such as:
o Where can I find journal articles on a specific aspect of a topic
o How can I combine different elements/keywords in a search?
Presenter
https://library.concordia.ca/find/databases/index.php
E N G I N E E R I N G V I L L A G E A C L O S E R L O O K AT A N E N G I N E E R I N G D ATA B A S E
Compendex Inspec
GEOBASE
W H AT C O N T E N T I S I N C L U D E D ?
With a coverage of 1884 to the present, the three indexes Compendex, Inspec, and GEOBASE provide content in general engineering as well as more specialized engineering disciplines.
Presenter
Sources: https://www.elsevier.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/56378/Ei-Compendex-factsheet.pdf https://www-engineeringvillage-com.lib-ezproxy.concordia.ca/search/cvp/display.url https://www-elsevier-com.lib-ezproxy.concordia.ca/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/56407/IET-Inspec-factsheet.pdf http://www.theiet.org/resources/inspec/about/ https://www.elsevier.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/56424/Geobase-factsheet.pdf
W H AT C O N T E N T I S I N C L U D E D ?
“Publications must consist of peer-reviewed engineering content and have a publicly available description of the peer review process. Exceptions would be trade journals and some conference proceedings.”
-Engineering Village Compendex Content Policy and Selection (A checklist of 13 criteria)
Presenter
https://www-elsevier-com.lib-ezproxy.concordia.ca/solutions/engineering-village/content/selection-criteria
H OW TO AC C E S S F U L L T E X T ?
Full text may be readily available. If not, the “Find it @ Concordia” button can help check for full text availability in the library.
“Full text” button, if one exists
“Find it @ Concordia” button to check the
library’s other subscriptions. If not available,
request it via Interlibrary Loan.
I N T E R L I B R A RY L OA N
• If Concordia Library doesn’t have it, use Interlibrary Loan
• Takes a few days or longer to process depending on the item
GOOGLE SCHOL AR
T H E R E I S A WAY TO C O M B I N E L I B R A RY S E A R C H A N D G O O G L E S C H O L A R S E A R C H
Presenter
https://library.concordia.ca/help/using/google-scholar.php
L I B R A RY L I N K S I N G O O G L E S C H O L A R
• Set up Concordia University Library links in Google Scholar to make finding full text easier
• The link/button Find it @ Concrodia
• The same link/button can be found in library databases too
G O O G L E S C H O L A R
E N G I N E E R I N G V I L L AG E
K N O W I N G H O W T O S E A R C H K E Y WO R D S A N D S Y N O N Y M S
F R O M A TO P I C TO K E Y C O N C E P T S
Think through your topic before searching.
Breaking down a topic helps develop effective keywords.
Electronic waste Recycling Guiyu
Topic
How does electronic waste recycling affect citizens living in Guiyu, China?
S U B J E C T H E A D I N G S
In many databases, articles are displayed with rich metadata, including careful indexing of subject matters.
S U B J E C T H E A D I N G S
“Controlled terms” help identify synonyms and related terms.
• Makes searching more precise
• Discover other broader, narrower, or related terms
WHAT IS YOUR TOPIC AND
KEYWORDS? S H A R E I N T H E C O L L A B O R AT I V E D O C U M E N T
Presenter
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jL-JR1SUhlENhPldtz7J-lpw5lVo6XaqcH6gHfxMztQ/edit?usp=sharing
K N O W I N G W H AT T O R E A D D I F F E R E N T I N F O R M AT I O N S O U R C E S F O R D I F F E R E N T N E E D S
T Y P E S O F I N F O R M AT I O N S O U R C E S
Each source type has its specific purpose, intended audience, scope, and perspective.
Understanding the differences helps determine what to refine and focus.
Standards
MA JOR T YPES OF INFORMATION
SOURCES C O M P L E T E T H E D R A G A N D D R O P A C T I V I T Y
Presenter
Presentation Notes
http://www.concordia.ca/library/guides/encs/encs-workshop-activities.html Books provide thorough and in-depth coverage of a topic. They usually contain an overview of research or issues related to the topic. They are written and/or edited by subject experts. Conference proceedings are compilations of papers, research, and information presented at conferences, conventions, workshops, and symposia. They allow new ideas, techniques, or methodologies to be explained before official journal publications. They are more often used in science and engineering. Theses and dissertations are the result of an individual student's research while in a graduate program. They are written under the guidance and review of an academic committee but are not considered "peer-reviewed" or "refereed" publications. Journal articles generally report on the latest original research. The focus is usually quite specialized. Many of these publications are "peer reviewed" or "refereed". This means that scholars in the same field review the research and findings before the article is published. They are written by and for faculty, researchers, or other experts in a field. Standards are guidelines, specifications, codes, recommended associated with industrial, technical, or professional fields. They often stipulate performance, design requirements, operation conditions and procedures, and quality of goods and services. Trade/professional publications are written by practitioners and intended for practitioners. They communicate news and trends in a specific field but are not intended to be "scholarly". Popular sources are written by journalists or professional writers for a general audience. They are written in a language that is easy to understand by the general public. They may contain an argument, opinion, or analysis of an issue. Patents/trademarks provide protection of intellectual property. Trademarks typically protect brand names and logos used on goods and services. Patents protect inventions. Reference sources provide definitions, overviews, and summaries on various fields. They usually contain background information, key concepts, and a breakdown of major subtopics or related issues. Literature reviews survey scholarly articles, books and other sources relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory, providing a description, summary, and critical evaluation of each work.
F I LT E R A N D R E F I N E
• In Compendex (Engineering Village), there is the “Treatment” filter to limit to “General Review” or “Literature Review”
• Or just simply add “review” as a keyword
A N N UA L R E V I E W
• A publication/database that provides literature reviews in a specific area annually
• A great resource to grasp quickly major research and applications in a field
• Help keep abreast of knowledge in a familiar field or get familiarized with a new field
Presenter
A S S E S S I M PAC T
This goes beyond just searching for literature, but determining the research performance of an article, a journal, a researcher, an institution…
Answer questions such as: o What is the citation count of
an article? o What is the impact factor of a
journal? o What is the h-index of a
researcher? o What are other options to
assess research impact other than citations?
Presenter
https://library.concordia.ca/research/bibliometrics/
K N O W I N G H O W T O O R G A N I Z E M A N A G E D O C U M E N T S , C I TAT I O N S , A N D R E F E R E N C E S
SOME ADVICE • Keep track from the beginning
• Make use of a tool such as Zotero to help organize and save time
• Doing it right conveys professionalism and quality
• Always double check citations and references that were automatically generated
• Consult a librarian if unsure
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CITATION TOOL Online citation generator
Quick and on the fly
For a small number of references
No account is required
Not many citation styles to choose
Built-in features in search platforms
(e.g. Sofia, Google Scholar)
Web-based and also a downloaded software
For small and big research projects
A storage to save and organize all references
A browser extension for saving while browsing
PDF annotating and notetaking
Collaboration in group projects
Basic set-up is required
Z OT E R O
• Manage and organize sources in one place
• Save references/sources from the web browser
• Generate in-text citations and prepare the reference list automatically via a Word plugin
Z OT E R O
• Manage and organize sources in one place
• Save references/sources from the web browser
• Generate in-text citations and prepare the reference list automatically via a Word plugin
Presenter
Z OT E R O
• Manage and organize sources in one place
• Save references/sources from the web browser
• Generate in-text citations and prepare the reference list automatically via a Word plugin
Presenter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niCN72C-9XI&feature=youtu.be
H E L P & H OW- TO G U I D E S
Subject guides are available for all schools, including one for Engineering and Computer Science.
General guides cover various topics from open access journals to annotated bibliography.
Presenter
https://library.concordia.ca/help/
A S K A L I B R A R I A N
Contact the library in-person, by email, chat, or phone.
Contact your subject librarian (that’s me!)
Presenter
Review • What constitutes a good literature review and
why does its quality matter? • Literature Reviews: An Overview for Graduate
Students • Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Literature Review • Sage Research Methods Online • Engineering and Computer Science Subject Guide • User guide for Sofia • How to surf today’s information tsunami: on the
craft of effective reading
• How to set up Google Scholar to find resources available at Concordia
• Compendex (via Engineering Village) • Annual Reviews • Interlibrary Loan • Bibliometrics and Research Impact Guide • Concordia Library Standards Collection • IEEE Citation Style • Library’s Zotero Guide
Agenda
Why such a challenge?
What is in a literature review?
An observation from a prof
The dinner party metaphor
more resources on writing
Knowing Where to search
What search tool do you use to find academic information?
Where should you search?
Interlibrary loan
Google Scholar
knowing how to search
Subject headings
subject headings
Knowing what to read
Types of information sources
filter and refine
Do you use a citation tool?
Zotero
Zotero
Zotero