Research Guides: PSYC 494 Kliewer Research Team: Home

Reviewing the Literature

The quality of your research question is based upon the quality and relevance of the literature you locate. This guide will help you search using the powerful tools available in core research databases like PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science.

The handouts below demonstrate many searches that are relevant to:

Project HEART
The Myanmar Youth Health Study
Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth Tobacco Project
Dating and Health Study
Project CARE
Project COPE

Handout for Library Research
Search demonstrations
Use limiters (date, gender, age, population group, methodology); specify search fields:Title, Abstract, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), use GET IT @VCU

Core Databases

PsycINFO
The largest resource for peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science and mental health.
PubMed
The go-to source for biomedical & health sciences literature.
Web of Science
Provides access to high impact journal literature for multidisciplinary research.

Searching Pubmed

PubMed Search Basics
With tips for using special features like "Related Citations"

community violence (internalizing OR externalizing)
What is the relationship between exposure to community violence and internalizing or externalizing behaviors?
"cardiometabolic risk" AND family
How do family factors relate to cardiometabolic risk?
"cardiometabolic risk" AND (family OR genetics)
How do family or genetic factors affect cardiometabolic risk?
allostasis AND socioeconomic factors
A focused search using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH terms).

Searching PsycINFO

PsycINFO Search Basics
With tips for using special features like "Cited References" and "Cited by"

How to find Literature Reviews in PsycINFO

Gaps in the literature?

How to you find gaps in the literature? Search for:

Empirical research articles: Look for sections where authors point readers to areas which need future examination. These sections have various titles like:
- Suggestions for Future Research
- Limitations and Implications
- Conclusions
Literature reviews (narrative reviews)
Systematic reviews
Meta-analyses
- These papers delve deep into the literature, summarize previous research findings, and examine the trends and changes over a long period of time in a research area.
Recent Dissertations

PSYC 494 Kliewer Research Team

Your Librarian

Types of Scholarly Articles 3:35

How to Read a Scholarly Article (Basic) 2:34

How to Read Academic Research (Advanced) 11:43

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Reviewing the Literature

Core Databases

Searching Pubmed

Searching PsycINFO

Gaps in the literature?

Other Guides