Use these methods to find relevant literature.
Follow these tabs for a brief overview of five different search methods you can use:
► Best-match method
► Snowball method
► Citation method
► Pearl method
► Building block method
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The most basic way is through simple search. This involves simply entering some relevant search terms in the search bar. The search engine will then look for the best combination. This usually returns many results, but often not the best ones.
► We call this the best-match method.
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Have you found an interesting article and are looking for more similar articles? Then check which other (older) sources are referenced in the article.
► This search method is called the snowball method.
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If you have found a good article but would like to use a more recent source; search for literature in which your source has been referenced. You can do this, for example, by using the Cited By function in Google Scholar.
► This is called the Citation Method.
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When you are just starting your search, you usually don't yet know exactly what the most appropriate search terms are. Then start searching with your own search terms: you can then explore your search results to see if they use other or better terms. Adopt these to refine your search.
► This is called the Pearl Growing Method.
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