While your subject modules provide you with plenty of information regarding writing literature reviews and, recognising and choosing research methods, you may wish to find additional information in these areas.
You will find a number of useful books and ebooks via Primo Search, and it is recommended that you search for information there.
Another excellent resource is the database, SAGE Research Methods. This database contains a plethora of information about research methods, including literature reviews, and it is highly recommended.
SAGE Research Methods (SRM) is designed to assist beginner and experienced researchers through the research process, from defining a research question through to reviewing the literature and writing up findings.
There are several ways to search for information and you can further refine your search results using limiters.
Use either the basic search box on the homepage or click through to advanced search to interrogate the database using keywords.
For example, to learn more about literature reviews, search for "literature review" in the basic search box.
If you want to be more specific, use the advanced search function to exert more control over your search. Advanced search also supports Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT).
Under the Browse by dropdown menu you will find options to search SRM by Discipline, Content Type or Topic.
Under the Search all content dropdown you can use keywords to search within a content type. Of special note are SAGE's "Little Blue Books", which are about qualitative research and "Little Green Books", which are about quantitative research.
SRM has developed a Methods Map that you can use to visualise the research lifecycle and hierarchy. Navigate to the Methods Map from the Tools dropdown. When you first enter the Methods Map it lists the broadest term, Research Methods, in the centre of the map. To the right it lists narrower terms, or sub-terms.
For example, if you are planning your research you could click on planning research. Beneath planning research there is information about literature searching and review, as well as developing research proposals and questions. Each of these will have narrower terms beneath them, and so on. You can stop at any point and view the content on the active node.
Go to the SAGE Research Methods database and practice searching for information using the different methods above.
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