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Literature searching explained

What is literature searching?

A literature search is a considered and organised search to find key literature on a topic. To complete a thorough literature search you should:

  • define what you are searching for
  • decide where to search
  • develop a search strategy
  • refine your search strategy
  • save your search for future use.

For background reading or an introduction to a subject, you can do a shorter and more basic Library search.

Use this guide to work your way through the all the stages of the literature searching process.

We provide a literature searching service for University of Leeds researchers, to support research aligned with the University’s strategic priorities.