Resource Guides: Applied Research: Searching the Literature

Developing a Research Question

Generating Research Questions about Teaching and Learning
A worksheet from Utah Valley State University.
Elements of a Research Project or Proposal: Questions to Consider
From the University of Maine.

Building a systematic search

Systematic Literature Searches
Really helpful search tips from Aarhus University
PRISMA-S: Explanation & Elaboration
How to report literature searches for systematic reviews.

Choosing databases

Browse an A-Z list of the databases that the Library currently provides access to Library.humber.ca/atoz_landing

If you would like suggestions of the best databases for your specific research topic, ask your librarian or check our program guides for more focused lists.

Dowloading your results

There are many options for downloading and storing the resources that you find during the course of your literature review.

Export citation information to Excel
- This is usually quite simple to do from most databases. Ask your librarian if you are not sure how to do this.
Use a citation manager
- These allow you to save pdfs and citation information, and easily share them with collaborators. Free options include Zotero and Mendeley. Paid options include RefWorks and End Note. The Gerstein Library at the University of Toronto has created a useful comparision table of the different options.