Search approaches

Topic searching allows you to locate relevant literature by using key concepts directly relevant to your research question. It can include simple scoping searches or more comprehensive searches.

Types of topic searches

For help planning your search and searching see:

Using a range of other search approaches can also be useful finding published and grey literature. For more detail on these and other approaches, see the Grey Literature and Other Sources Guide.

Locating key authors

Search for key authors in the Library catalogue or relevant databases. Alternatively check author profiles such as ORCiD and Google Scholar.

Learn more:

Browse contents - hand searching

Double check you have not missed relevant literature by browsing key journal or conference proceedings' online contents for a certain number of years.

Learn more:

Citation searching

Look at the reference list and who has cited (referenced) key publications to find further relevant literature.

Key databases and search tools which track citations include Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and the Library Collection.

In the Library catalogue look for  or  .

Learn more:

For more detail on these and other approaches, see:

Many databases include a thesaurus where publications indexed in the databases are assigned subject headings by experts within the field. They can be useful to explore to:

• gain a better understanding of your discipline area
• discover synonyms or alternative terms to use in your searches
• find relevant subject terms to add to your searches

Most thesauri will require you to enter your search terms or browse to find relevant terms.

 The example below is from the education focussed database:

Select the 'i' icons below for more information:

Doing a systematic search?

Top tips:

• It is best practice to incorporate subject headings in your search strategy (if available) together with keywords - this will make it more comprehensive.
• Search the database thesaurus for relevant subject headings for each element of your search - using a table, or something similar, to map out your terms can be helpful.
• Always check the ‘Scope Note’ (explanation) to help you select relevant subject headings.
• Any subject headings used in your search strategy should also be included in your keyword search strings. This will allow you to find articles without subject headings and to assist with translation to other databases that do not consistently apply subject headings, like Scopus.
• Search for each element of your search separately and use the database search history to combine and form your complete search strategy. This makes it easier to translate the strategy to other databases.

More help:

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools is increasing in study and research. Whilst some tools may offer efficiencies in aspects of the literature review process, you should evaluate any tool and review its limitations before you use it. 

GenAI tools should not be used as the only source for your literature search, but they may augment traditional search approaches. You should always check the output of any GenAI tool, particularly for accuracy and currency.

The table below lists some potential advantages and limitations of selected GenAI tools in literature searching.

Further comparison of popular AI tools can be found on the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Library guide on Emerging AI Tools for Literature Review.

The UniSA’s Teaching Innovation Unit have produced a guide to AI for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. It contains detailed information on what AI is and how it can be used in study and teaching.