Introduction > Reviewing Literature > Where to Look for Information

Where to Look for Information So, you're preparing a literature review, but where do you start to find the relevant information about your subject? A good place to start is to search your library catalogue which will help you identify and locate books relevant to your subject area. These are termed secondary sources of information. Books will give general background information on a topic or topics, but won't always detail the most up-to-date research. Publishing companies, such as Elsevier, allow you to search for new books by subject area. Although secondary sources are vital to your research, it's important to find the latest information about your topic. Primary sources (scientific papers, conference proceedings and theses) represent the 'cutting edge' of science and are your best source of up-to-date information. Often the easiest way to find primary sources is to search through dedicated databases, which you can access through your library or via the internet. When you've found the information you're after, you can usually either download the articles directly or use the library catalogue to locate a hard copy.

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