Finding the right literature is not simply a matter of typing keywords into Google. Systematic, strategic searching produces better-quality sources, reduces the time wasted on irrelevant material, and ensures your literature review genuinely reflects the state of knowledge in your field.
A haphazard literature search leads to:
- Confirmation bias (only finding sources that confirm your view)
- Missing key studies that challenge or contextualise your argument
- Gaps in the literature review that assessors will notice
- Poor source quality (relying on non-peer-reviewed material)
KEY TAKEAWAY: Your search process is as important as your search results. Document your search strategy (databases, terms, inclusion/exclusion criteria) in your Extended Investigation Journal. This demonstrates research literacy and is evidence of scholarly practice.
Before searching, identify:
- Key concepts in your research question
- Synonyms and related terms (e.g., “adolescent,” “teenager,” “youth”)
- Broader and narrower terms (e.g., “mental health” → “anxiety” → “generalised anxiety disorder”)
- Related disciplines (e.g., a question about learning might span psychology, neuroscience and education)
Boolean operators help combine and refine searches:
- AND — narrows results (both terms must appear): adolescent AND anxiety
- OR — broadens results (either term can appear): adolescent OR teenager OR youth
- NOT — excludes terms: anxiety NOT medication
- "quotation marks" — exact phrase: "social media use"
| Resource | Best For |
|---|---|
| Google Scholar | Broad academic search; access to abstracts; citation tracking |
| JSTOR | Humanities, social sciences; full text access |
| PubMed | Medical and health sciences |
| ERIC | Education research |
| ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) | Australian statistics and datasets |
| Government websites (.gov.au) | Policy documents, official statistics |
| Library databases (via school/state library) | Peer-reviewed articles with full text |
EXAM TIP: Being able to name specific, appropriate databases for a given research topic demonstrates research literacy. Mentioning “Google Scholar” alone may not be sufficient — identify the most appropriate disciplinary database for your field.
Before reading in detail, filter search results using criteria such as:
- Date range: Generally prefer the last 5–10 years unless seeking historical context
- Relevance: Does the abstract address your specific question?
- Source type: Peer-reviewed journal articles preferred for academic claims
- Population: Is the study population comparable to the one your question concerns?
- Language: English-language sources typically most accessible
Skim abstracts and introductions before committing time to reading:
- Does the source directly address your research question?
- What is the methodology? Is it appropriate?
- What are the key findings?
- Is this study frequently cited by others (a sign of significance in the field)?
As you search, maintain a record of:
- Search terms used and databases searched (to avoid repetition and for transparency)
- Sources reviewed including those rejected and why
- Key sources with brief notes on relevance, methodology and main findings
- Citation information for each source (to build your reference list)
Tools: spreadsheet, reference management software (Zotero, Mendeley), or a well-organised Journal.
Two techniques for finding related literature:
- Forward citation: Find who has cited a key paper using Google Scholar’s “Cited by” feature — reveals more recent work building on your source
- Backward citation: Read the reference list of a key paper — reveals foundational literature in the field
APPLICATION: Start your literature search broadly (e.g., “sleep and academic performance”), then narrow to your specific population and context. Use citation trails from your best 2–3 sources to find the most relevant body of work efficiently.
You have searched sufficiently when:
- The same key sources keep reappearing from different search strategies
- You can identify the major debates and positions in the field
- You understand what is known and what your question adds
This is called saturation — and it signals that your literature review is comprehensive enough to support a well-informed research question.
COMMON MISTAKE: Stopping the literature search once you have found a few supporting sources. A strong literature review represents the state of the field — including contested findings, ongoing debates and gaps in knowledge. That context is what makes your research question meaningful.
