Where can you find the best literature for your research?

1 Define your scope

Before you start searching for literature, you need to define the scope of your research. This means identifying your research question, purpose, objectives, and keywords. Your scope will help you narrow down your search and focus on the most relevant and recent literature. It will also help you avoid getting overwhelmed by too much information or missing important sources.

2 Use multiple sources

One of the best ways to find the best literature for your research is to use multiple sources of information. This means not relying on one database, website, or library, but exploring different options and platforms. For example, you can use academic search engines, such as Google Scholar, Scopus, or Web of Science, to find peer-reviewed articles and citations. You can also use subject-specific databases, such as PubMed, PsycINFO, or ERIC, to find literature related to your discipline or topic. Additionally, you can use library catalogs, reference lists, bibliographies, and citation tracking tools to find books, reports, and other sources.

4 Organize your literature

Once you have found the best literature for your research, you need to organize it in a systematic and efficient way. This means keeping track of your sources, summarizing and synthesizing them, and creating a reference list. You can use various tools and methods to organize your literature, such as citation managers, such as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote, to store and manage your sources. You can also use software such as NVivo, Atlas.ti, or MAXQDA, to code and analyze your sources. Organizing your literature will help you save time, avoid plagiarism, and prepare for writing your literature review.