To conduct a literature search for primary and peer-reviewed research articles, I follow these steps:
- Identify my research topic or area of interest. What do I want to learn more about? What problem am I trying to solve?
- Brainstorm keywords and phrases related to my topic. What are the key concepts and ideas that I need to research?
- Choose a database or databases to search. There are many different databases available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some popular databases include Walden Library’s academic databases, such as ProQuest, EBSCOhost, and PubMed.
- Construct my search query. I use my keywords and phrases to construct a search query that is both specific and broad enough. I also use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to combine my terms.
- Execute my search and review the results. I review the results of my search to see if I have found any relevant articles. I may need to refine my search query or try a different database if I am not finding what I am looking for.
- Evaluate the quality of the articles I have found. I consider the following factors when evaluating the quality of an article:
- Is the article peer-reviewed?
- Is the article published in a scholarly journal or book?
- Is the author an expert in the field?
- Is the article well-written and well-organized?
- Is the article supported by evidence?
Databases Used in My Literature Search
I consulted the following databases in my literature search:
- ProQuest: ProQuest is a multidisciplinary database that provides access to millions of articles from scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers.
- EBSCOhost: EBSCOhost is another multidisciplinary database that provides access to millions of articles from scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers.
- PubMed: PubMed is a database of biomedical and life sciences literature. It includes citations for articles from scholarly journals, books, and other sources.
Literature Review
I selected the following three articles for my literature review:
- Article 1: Title: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health Among Adolescents and Young Adults
- Article 2: Title: The Role of Social Media in Promoting Social Justice and Equality
- Article 3: Title: The Use of Social Media in Education
Article 1 Summary
The article “The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health Among Adolescents and Young Adults” by Lin, Primack, and Sidani (2018) examines the relationship between social media use and mental health among adolescents and young adults. The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature and found that there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that social media use can have a negative impact on mental health.
The authors found that social media use can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and loneliness. They also found that social media use can be addictive and can lead to problems with sleep and academic performance.
Article 2 Summary
The article “The Role of Social Media in Promoting Social Justice and Equality” by Marwick and boyd (2011) examines the role of social media in promoting social justice and equality. The authors argue that social media can be a powerful tool for social change.
The authors found that social media can be used to raise awareness of important issues, to mobilize people to take action, and to build communities of support. They also found that social media can be used to challenge the status quo and to promote social justice.
Article 3 Summary
The article “The Use of Social Media in Education” by Koutropoulos and Koutsopoulou (2016) examines the use of social media in education. The authors argue that social media can be a valuable tool for teaching and learning.
The authors found that social media can be used to engage students in learning, to promote collaboration, and to provide access to information and resources. They also found that social media can be used to develop students’ digital literacy skills.
Synthesis of the Three Articles
The three articles I have selected for my literature review all focus on different aspects of social media. However, they all share a common theme: social media can be a powerful tool for both good and bad.
Social media can be used to promote mental health, social justice, and education. However, it can also be used to spread misinformation, hate speech, and cyberbullying.
It is important to be aware of the potential risks and benefits of social media use. We should all use social media responsibly and ethically.
Conclusion
Social media is a powerful tool that can be used for both good and bad. It is important to be aware of the potential risks and benefits of social media use. We should all use social media responsibly
