Writing a Literature Review: Finding Reviews of the Literature

Most of the specialized databases will have scholarly articles that are either Literature Reviews or have a review of the literature as an introduction to the research.  Keys to finding them are listed below each database.

• Enter topic terms in the first search box.
• In the second box, enter "literature reviews" and change the All Fields option to “Subject Terms SU”
• Under Filters, check the box for Peer Reviewed sources.
• Selecting "Bibliography" under Document Type may or may not be helpful depending on the topic.

• Enter search terms and add: “literature review” or “review of literature” in second search box
• Check the box for Peer Reviewed sources.

• Enter your search terms.
• Under Filters > Publication Type, select "Systematic Review."

• Enter search terms and add: “literature review” or “review of literature” in second search box
• Check the box for Peer Reviewed sources.

• Enter search terms in the first box.
• In the second box, enter "literature reviews” and change the Select a Field option to "SU Descriptors (All)"
• Under Filters> Journal or Document, select "Journal Article."

Can also try Eric Digests, which are brief, 3-5 page, full text articles that describe the current state of an issue. They provide a bibliography, but do not evaluate the pros and cons of the studies cited.

• Enter search terms and under Filters > Document Type, select "ERIC Digests in Full Text."

• Enter your search terms
• Under Filters > Publication Type, select "Review."

• Enter search terms
• Under Filters > Methodology, select "Literature Review"

• Enter search terms and add: “literature review” or “review of literature” in second search box
• May also Limit to Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals

The following databases do not have options to limit results to literature reviews:

• MLA International Bibliography (Languages & Literatures)
• RILM Abstracts of Music Literature
• ATLA (Religion)