- Share how the Literature Review Action Plan helped you think about and plan your literature review. What was of most value to you that others might learn from?
- Discuss questions or challenges you have with searching for literature. What support can you seek to answer your questions? What topics in the literature will you use to formulate your own literature search?
- As we wrap up this week and our work on conducting a literature review, share which resources were immediately relevant to your project and why.
The Literature Review Action Plan was immensely helpful in breaking down the process of developing my literature review into manageable, clear steps. By outlining my research objectives, identifying key terms and concepts, and structuring a search strategy, I was able to approach the task more methodically. What was most valuable for me was the creation of a focused search strategy that included using specific databases, applying Boolean operators, and setting inclusion and exclusion criteria. This structured approach significantly improved the quality and relevance of the articles I reviewed, which is something I believe others can also benefit from. The action plan made it easier to remain organized and efficient throughout the research process.
Questions or challenges I faced during the literature search primarily centered on finding high-quality, up-to-date resources and managing the vast amount of available information. Identifying which studies were most relevant to my research topic and assessing the credibility of sources were also challenging aspects. To overcome these challenges, I found it useful to reach out to librarians, explore online tutorials, and engage with professional forums to gain insights into effective search techniques. Additionally, leaning on citation tracking and reading review papers in my topic area helped streamline my search process.
Topics in the literature that I focused on include understanding trends, critical perspectives, and significant gaps related to my research area. These focused topics guided my searches and allowed me to assess how different scholars approached similar questions or addressed challenges, providing a comprehensive view of the existing body of knowledge.
As for relevant resources, I found that discipline-specific databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were immediately beneficial. Their precise filtering options and relevance to healthcare topics helped me quickly find peer-reviewed articles. I also utilized Google Scholar for a broader view and to track citations, which allowed me to explore influential works related to my field. These resources were crucial in building a strong foundation for my literature review and provided a range of perspectives to enrich my analysis.