A literature search is a systematic and comprehensive search for information. The information you search for will inform, underpin and /or shape your research, which will you to find out what has already been written in your subject area and enable you to identify the main trends.
The information can be contained in books, journal articles, reports, case studies, policy documents, conference proceedings etc.
Before you start your literature search use the worksheet below to plan what you are going to do.
Planning your literature search in this way should help you work in a more systematic fashion and will provide you with a record of what you have done for when you write up your research methods.
The library holds many books about research skills/literature searching. Follow the links to each e-book: