Literature Search in the Academy

[mstakh.i.mom.i]

Whether private, academic or professional, the first step in any endeavor is often the analysis of literature - even when buying a new device such as an alarm clock, we first read literature - the instruction manual and even analyze YouTube videos. We look at existing knowledge in order to get an introduction to new topics.

Now I am often asked if I can recommend literature on a topic XY. I often send back 1-2 sources but I don't really like doing that because it doesn't really help the person asking the question.

I would like to divide the following text into sections. On the one hand, I will write in night clubs and bars email list great detail why it is actually counterproductive for academics to ask me about literature and then I will also go into recommendations for literature searches as a practitioner. As a practitioner, skip straight to the end to the heading: Literature searches for practitioners.

Reading tip: Help, I'm desperate with my thesis!


To know is to know where it is written.

Albert Einstein
In general, it is important for you to know how you acquire knowledge. Academy is the derivation of comprehensible results and how you found the existing literature. An answer like: Mr Lindner sent it to me or came up by chance on Google, will probably not please your supervisor. It is not called systematic literature analysis for nothing. Its aim is to investigate facts scientifically and to obtain so-called reliable findings. You are also welcome to read my article: what is research actually?

If you are looking for detailed information about the thesis then you should read my article on literature analysis - but if you just want to have a little browse - then read on.