For year 2 BSc Sport and Exercise students at Middlesex University

1. Literature
Searching:
Finding the
evidence
SES2203 February 2018

2. © Middlesex University
Today
• Assignments 3 and 4
• Literature reviews
• What makes a good search?
• Using specialist sources to find journal articles
• Evaluating and critiquing what you find
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3. © Middlesex University
Why research?
• Solve problems
• Underpin practice (does it work? Is it worth it?)
• Overview of existing knowledge, theory
• Identify gaps in knowledge
• Gather ideas about possible methods etc. for a future
study – how you could collect and analyse the data.
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Slido code: M457

4. © Middlesex University
Assignment 3 – Research proposal and ethics
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Assignment 4 – Research proposal poster presentation
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6. © Middlesex University
Marking criteria – research proposal
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Marking criteria – poster presentation
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Finding the supporting evidence
• For your
• Research proposal and presentation
And next year’s dissertation....
A literature review:
- Sets the scene
- Helps develop the rationale for your proposed research
- Outlines key themes, gaps in knowledge, limitations of
existing studies
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Slido code: M457

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So, you need to…
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Slido code: M457

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Process of writing a literature review
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1. Think about
the topic
2. Select your
sources and
start reading
3. Narrow
down the topic
and source list
4. Assess your
information
and plan
5. Outline your
plan
6. Write
7. Revise

11. © Middlesex University
Finding resources
myUniHub > My Study > My Library
Go to My Study…then
My Library
Select Summon or
Databases
Login to
MyUniHub

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Searching for articles
• Think about your keywords
• Where to search?
— Summon, Google Scholar
— Other databases on MyUniHub – PubMed, Sport Discus, PsycInfo
• Access: ALWAYS login to MyUniHub > My Study > My
Library, even for Google Scholar
• Refine your search
— Journal articles, peer reviewed, publication date, subject…
• Is it relevant to your topic? Is it a research article?
— Read the abstract – often more helpful than the title
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Keywords
• What are the main
concepts in the topic?
• Are there other
words/phrases for the
same ideas?
• Not all authors will use
the same terminology!
• Read the
articles/abstracts you’ve
found for inspiration and
search again
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14. © Middlesex University
Fundamental
movement
skills
• Movement skills
• Skill acquisition
• Skill development
• Skill proficiency
• Motor skills / ability
Children
Adolescents
• Child* [finds child
and children]
• Adolescent
• Youth
• Young people
• Teenage(rs)
Physical
Education
• PE
• School sport
Physical
activity levels
• Exercise
• Sports participation
• Active lifestyle
Does targeting
fundamental
movement skills in
PE improve
physical activity
levels in children &
adolescents?
Specific
skills
• Gender?
• Age groups?

15. © Middlesex University
Where to search?

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Beyond Summon – other places to
search
• Databases
— Sport Discus
— Medline / PubMed – good for rehab and physiology topics
— PsycInfo – for psychology topics
— MyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases
• Google Scholar
• Individual journals specific to your topic
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17. © Middlesex University
Refine your search results
 Full text online
Scholarly &
peer review
 Journal
Articles only
 Date range
 Discipline,
e.g. recreation &
sports

18. © Middlesex University
Google Scholar – lots of useful features
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Author’s profile
– check for
other research
on the same
topic
Papers that
have
referenced
this one
The same paper on
other websites –
sometimes good for
getting full text
Full text from
Middlesex and
other sources
BUT…
- Limited ability to combine different keywords
- Older articles can appear first in results – use the date limits!

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If you have too many results...
• Add more keywords (narrow it down)
• Be more specific (sprinting vs. running)
• Use “” to find exact phrases (“home advantage”)
• Add limits, e.g. date

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If you do not have enough results...
• Use alternative keywords (football or soccer)
• Be less specific
• Split the question into simple concepts/words
• Try variations of the same word, e.g. swim, swimmers,
swimming

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• Currency - How old is the information? When was it
last updated?
• Authority - Who is the author? What is their
background? Is the article published in a
scholarly/peer reviewed journal?
• Relevance - Is this what I need? Does it address my
research question? Is it at the appropriate level?
• Purpose - What is the purpose of the information e.g.
academic research, financial gain
— What sort of journal article is it – is it an experimental study? Is it a
literature review – does it discuss and critique existing literature?
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Distinguishing between primary and
secondary sources
• Primary sources – original, experimental research
written up and published by the researchers in
peer-reviewed journals
— The title may mention the type of research e.g. ‘a qualitative study’
— Usually tests the effects something (training, treatment etc) applied to
a certain population
— Includes sections such as methods, results, discussion
• Secondary sources – work that summarises,
critiques or reviews previous primary research
— e.g. A literature review, a systematic review
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23. © Middlesex University
Reading
• Read the abstract
— What is the purpose of the article? What are the main findings and
conclusions? Is it relevant to the topic?
• Quickly look through the article - read any headings and
subheadings. Look at any diagrams, tables and graphs
• Skim through the relevant sections of the text quickly for
general understanding
— What are the main points? What questions does it raise and/or
answer? How useful is it to me?
• Read again carefully
— Is there sufficient evidence given? Is the evidence given convincing?
Why / not? Are the conclusions supported by the rest of the article?
• Make notes!
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24. © Middlesex University
Outline your plan
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1. Think about
the topic
2. Select your
sources and start
reading
3. Narrow down
the topic and
source list
4. Assess your
information and
plan
5. Outline
your plan
6. Write
7. Revise
• Sort and prioritise the literature you
have already
• See which authors/ideas compliment
each other
• See which authors/ideas disagree with each other
• Take the most interesting theme and start to outline your
literature review
• Do I have enough to start writing? What more could I include?

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26. © Middlesex University
Need further help?
• Librarians available in the Study Hub (library 1st floor)
Monday-Friday 9-5
• LET academic writing support 12-3, Study Hub
• 1-1 appointments bookable via UniHub
• Jo Wilson j.r.wilson@mdx.ac.uk
• https://unihelp.mdx.ac.uk/askalibrarian
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