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Searching and reviewing the research literature
Chapter
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Searching and reviewing the 
research literature
Dean Whitehead
Learning outcomes
After reading this chapter, you should be 
able to:
• discuss different types of literature 
sources
• conduct a focused search of the 
literature using an explicit search 
strategy
• discuss the use of literature in relation 
to specific research designs and 
methodological approaches
• identify the characteristics of a relevant 
literature review
• begin to apply criteria to evaluate 
(summarise and critique) a research 
article and broader research literature 
on a specific topic.
Key terms
bibliographical databases
critical appraisal/evaluation/review
literature reviews
literature searches
primary sources
refereed (peer-reviewed) journals
secondary sources
Chapter 
3
Schneider_1374_Chapter 3_main.indd 35
7/25/2012 6:10:36 PM
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NursiNg aNd Midwifery research 4e
36
of professional literature are journal articles, 
abstracts, critical reviews, textbooks, chapters
in books, abstracts published as conference 
proceedings, professional and governmental 
reports, personal communications and 
unpublished doctoral and master’s theses. Many 
of these are now available in digital media 
formats and commonly accessed through the 
internet. The ‘internet’ is a broad term that 
types of research 
Literature resources
Nursing and midwifery have an ever-growing 
body of scholarly literature that focuses on 
discipline-specific topics as well as literature
from other related disciplines. The resources 
available to assist in developing a literature 
review are wide and varied. Common sources
introduction
Conducting research literature searches and then critiquing the gathered research literature is a 
vital part of successful primary research process (see Chapter 2). It is equally important for those 
who don’t currently conduct research too. Roberts and Ousey (2011) state that nursing and 
midwifery students are expected to produce academic assignments that demonstrate effective 
abilities to find, critically appraise and apply research findings to practice. A systematic approach 
to searching the scholarly and professional literature is the first step in producing a literature 
review on a particular topic of interest. Information and communications technology (ICT), in 
particular, has revolutionised the contemporary process of searching the research literature. It is 
by far the most convenient and expansive resource at hand if one has access to reliable internet 
connections and institutional subscription to a range of ICT-type databases. A range of online 
resources are now available to anyone with internet access, including websites, electronic books 
(e-books), literature databases of published journal articles, full-text journal repositories and 
e-journals. The proliferation of social media and related media, such as podcasting and Facebook 
in recent times, adds to this armoury of resources or at least adds to the way that nursing and 
midwifery research is talked about (Amerson 2011; Gipson & Richards 2011).
This chapter examines sources of academic literature and describes search strategies before 
moving on to the critical review of gathered literature. Steps of the literature search and review 
process are: