Research Literature

Research literature can be defined as written reports from research studies. There are many types of research literature, with published research articles representing the most common source for research literature. Other sources include dissertations, books, and internet websites.

Published research articles, for some, are considered the most trustworthy type of research literature. When identifying articles, it is most important to consider the origin of the work. For example, some published research literature articles have the added benefit of being peer reviewed. Peer review is a process whereby literature is read and reviewed by others, and the reviewers must deem the work to be worthy before it can be published. Typically, the reviewer does not know who the author(s) is and vice versa, a process known as a double-blind review that reduces undue reviewer bias. Another important aspect to consider in regard to the origin of the work is who the author(s) is. In most areas of research, there are existing research literature articles written by authors who have published repeatedly in the area. Knowing who these authors are for a given area that is being investigated can assist researchers in identifying relevant research literature.

Dissertations are another source of research literature. Dissertations typically are considered as published works and can be found in databases such as ERIC. Using dissertations as research literature can assist researchers in knowing what new researchers in the field are investigating. Also, dissertations often [Page 784]contain studies that have not been published but contain helpful information. It is important to remember that the review process for dissertations can be inconsistent; there are no agreed-on standards across colleges or universities for quality of dissertations. Thus, faculty members who serve on the committee for the student who wrote the dissertation often are the only readers and the only ones who have judged the dissertation to be worthy.

Books, which represent another type of research literature, can be very helpful for researchers, especially when broad topics are being investigated because most books include general information. There are many books available that are conceptual in nature, thereby not reporting specific research findings. When using books as research literature, it is necessary to remember that, unlike some research articles, books are usually not peer reviewed and can include opinions of the author(s) that are not based on research findings.

Internet websites are another helpful source of research literature. Checking the internet for information regarding the topic under investigation can help researchers to identify other researchers' work. For example, by searching the internet for the topic of interest, one might find research literature based on studies. Furthermore, the internet is beneficial in helping to identify other sources of research literature (e.g., books). There are many places to search for research literature. Library databases, such as ERIC and PsychInfo, include many published research articles. The internet website Google Scholar can help researchers to identify peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, books, dissertations, and theses.

Being careful readers and remembering that just because works are published or appear on the internet does not mean they represent reliable sources can assist researchers in locating relevant research literature.

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