Literature Reviews: Choosing a Topic & Setting the Scope

A good way to choose and refine a topic is through searching library catalogs & databases. Selecting search terms can be tricky for beginning researchers in social sciences. Here are some tips to help get started:

• If your search is generating too few results, check to see if the database has a thesaurus. If it does, search the thesaurus to see if there are suggested terms for your topic.

• Look for subject terms and author-supplied keywords as you look through abstracts. Try updating your search to the terms & keywords the database provides.

• Select specific fields in databases to target how the database searches for your chosen terms.

• Become familiar with Boolean search techniques. Select a range related terms to cast a wide net for your search and break up your search terms into separate boxes. Here is a sample search looking for articles about homeless youth in New York:

• How Library Stuff Works: Boolean Operators video from McMaster Libraries
• How Library Stuff Works: Boolean Modifiers video from McMaster Libraries

Use this grid to help set the scope of your review: