1. Start with your keywords and research question:
* Identify your core concepts: Break down your research question into key terms and synonyms. Think broadly – consider different angles and related concepts.
* Use a combination of keywords: Don't rely on just one or two. Experiment with different word combinations to capture a wider range of relevant literature.
2. Utilize various databases and search engines:
* Academic Databases: These are crucial for scholarly research. Popular options include:
* Web of Science: Excellent for citation tracking and finding highly cited papers.
* Scopus: Similar to Web of Science, with a strong focus on citation analysis.
* PubMed (for biomedical research): A comprehensive database of biomedical literature.
* Google Scholar: A free search engine indexing scholarly literature across many disciplines. While convenient, it lacks the advanced search features of dedicated databases.
* Subject-specific databases: Many fields have specialized databases (e.g., JSTOR for humanities, IEEE Xplore for engineering). Check your university library's resources for access.
* Library Catalogs: Your university or local library's catalog is a valuable resource for books, dissertations, and theses.
* Preprint Servers: Platforms like arXiv (for physics, mathematics, computer science, etc.) and bioRxiv (for biology) host preprints – articles that haven't yet been peer-reviewed. Use these cautiously, acknowledging the lack of peer review.
3. Refine your searches:
* Boolean Operators: Use AND, OR, and NOT to combine keywords and refine your results (e.g., "climate change" AND "adaptation" AND "agriculture").
* Wildcards: Use symbols like * (e.g., "develop*" to find "developing," "development," etc.).
* Filters: Databases offer filters by date, author, publication type, language, etc. Use these to narrow your results.
* Citation Tracking: Once you find a relevant article, check its references and cited by list. This helps discover related and influential works.
4. Evaluate your sources:
* Credibility: Consider the author's expertise, the publication's reputation (impact factor for journals), and the publication date.
* Bias: Be aware of potential biases in the research and consider different perspectives.
* Relevance: Ensure the sources directly address your research question.
* Peer Review: For journal articles, peer review indicates a level of quality control.
5. Organize your references:
* Reference Management Software: Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote help you organize, cite, and generate bibliographies. These are highly recommended for efficient research.
* Note-Taking: While reading, take detailed notes summarizing key findings and arguments. This will be invaluable when writing your project.
6. Beyond Databases:
* Books: Consult relevant textbooks and monographs.
* Conference Proceedings: Look for presentations and papers from relevant conferences.
* Government Reports and Policy Documents: These can be valuable sources of data and analysis, particularly for policy-related research.
* Grey Literature: This encompasses materials not traditionally published through academic channels (e.g., reports from NGOs, industry publications). Use cautiously, assessing credibility.
Remember to always properly cite your sources to avoid plagiarism. Consult your institution's guidelines on citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Finding good references takes time and effort – be patient and persistent in your search!