Where to search when doing a literature review
Aim to be as comprehensive as possible when conducting a literature review. Knowing exactly where to search for information is important.
Work through the steps to find out the best databases to search for information on your research topic.
1. Start with research databases
Scopus and Web of Science are good databases to start with for any research topic and literature review.
- ScopusScopus is a large multidisciplinary database covering published material in the humanities and sciences. It also provides citation analysis of authors and subject areas.
Searching Scopus tutorial
- Includes access to Scival via expanded top menu (Elsevier personal registration required).
- Web of Science - Core CollectionThe leading citation index' of scholarly literature, chemical reactions and author information. Includes citation databases: Sciences Expanded (1965+), Social Sciences (1965+), Arts & Humanities (1975+). Conference Proceedings (1990+), Emerging Sources Citation (2005+) , Current Chemical Reactions (1985+) and Index Chemicus (1993+)
Access InCites benchmarking & analytics tools via the menu bar at the top of the screen.
2. Focus your search with specific databases
Select two or three discipline/specialist databases to conduct your search for comprehensive results.
Our subject guides will help you find databases relevant to major subject areas in each discipline and specific materials relevant to your research.
3. Find books, theses and more
If you're looking for a specific medium (book, thesis, journal, etc.) for your research, try the following:
- Trove
This link opens in a new window
A discovery tool focused on Australia and Australians. Access to resources such as books, pictures, maps, newspapers, music, people. Produced by the National Library of Australia
- Finding ThesesHelp finding theses at UOW, Australia and around the world and how to access them
