To conduct a literature search for primary and peer-reviewed research articles, I follow these steps:
- Choose a topic or area of interest.
- Identify keywords and search terms.
- Select the appropriate databases.
- Construct a search strategy.
- Evaluate the results.
Databases
The following databases are available to me at Walden University:
- Academic Search Complete
- CINAHL Plus with Full Text
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- EbscoHost Collection
- MEDLINE with Full Text
- PsycINFO
- ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global
Search Strategy
When constructing a search strategy, I use a combination of keywords and operators. Operators allow me to combine keywords in specific ways to narrow or broaden my search results.
For example, if I am interested in nursing research on the use of music therapy for pain management in cancer patients, I might use the following search string:
(music therapy) AND (pain management) AND (cancer patients)
The word “AND” tells the database to only return results that contain all three keywords.
I can also use operators to narrow my search results to specific types of research articles. For example, if I am only interested in primary research articles, I might add the following keyword to my search string:
(music therapy) AND (pain management) AND (cancer patients) AND (full text)
The word “full text” tells the database to only return results that are full-text articles.
Evaluating the Results
Once I have conducted my search, I need to evaluate the results to determine which articles are relevant and high quality. I consider the following factors when evaluating articles:
- Title: Is the title relevant to my topic or area of interest?
- Abstract: Does the abstract summarize the article’s purpose, methods, findings, and conclusions in a clear and concise manner?
- Author(s): Are the author(s) experts in the field?
- Journal: Is the journal peer-reviewed?
- Publication date: Is the article recent?
Example Literature Search
Topic: Nursing research on the use of music therapy for pain management in cancer patients.
Databases: Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and MEDLINE with Full Text.
Search Strategy:
(music therapy) AND (pain management) AND (cancer patients) AND (full text)
Results:
10 articles were returned from the search.
Selected Articles:
- Article 1: Music Therapy for Pain Management in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Article 2: The Effect of Music Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
- Article 3: The Use of Music Therapy to Reduce Pain in Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study
Article Summaries:
Article 1: This systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 randomized controlled trials found that music therapy was effective in reducing pain in cancer patients.
Article 2: This randomized controlled trial found that music therapy was effective in reducing pain and anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Article 3: This qualitative study found that music therapy was effective in reducing pain and improving the quality of life in cancer patients.
Synthesis of Articles:
All three of the selected articles found that music therapy was effective in reducing pain in cancer patients. This suggests that music therapy may be a valuable tool for nurses to use to help their patients manage pain.
Differences Between Summarizing and Synthesizing Research:
Summarizing research involves providing a brief overview of the main points of a study. Synthesizing research involves comparing and contrasting the findings of multiple studies to identify patterns and trends.
For example, a summary of Article 1 might include the following information:
- The study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 randomized controlled trials.
- The study found that music therapy was effective in reducing pain in cancer patients.
- The study’s findings suggest that music therapy may be a valuable tool for nurses to use to help their patients manage pain.
A synthesis of the three articles might include the following information:
- All three articles found that music therapy was effective in reducing pain in cancer patients.
- Two of the articles were randomized controlled trials, which are considered to be the gold standard for research.
- One of the articles was a qualitative study, which provides insights into the experiences of cancer patients who have used music therapy to manage pain.
Conclusion
The differences between summarizing and synthesizing research
