Writing Literature Reviews  Tags: literature_review educational_research lit_review education_research  

Electronic databases and journals can be accessed off-campus by entering your Campus ID at the prompt as you click on a link from the library website or this research guide. 

For GIL account access and requesting materials from GIL Express or ILLiad (Interlibrary Loan), you will need your Library ID.  

For more information on these IDs and when they are used as well as troubleshooting, consult this page:Off-Campus Password & Login Information

A literature review is a collection of prior research conducted on a topic.    It is a central component of the research process when writing articles, theses, or dissertations as it provides a foundation for your research.

This guide will take you through the literature review process and provide sources for developing the literature review.

• For information on writing literature reviews, go to the Books and Websites section.

• For locating articles to build your literature review, go to the Databases section.  Also check out the Articles section of the research guide in your subject area for additional database options.  

GSU Theses/Dissertations:

To search for print copies: 

• Use the GIL Online Catalog.  Select the keyword search option and type in "dissertations" as a keyword.   You may also search for dissertations on a particular topic by entering the topic in the 1st search box and dissertations in the 2nd search box.

To search for online copies:

• Use the GSU Dissertations & Theses database.  Searches may be done via keyword, title, or adviser.   Through this site, you can search citations and abstracts of dissertations and theses submitted by Georgia State University and published in UMI's Dissertation Abstracts database, view 24 page previews of dissertations and theses published after 1996, and download the full text of dissertations and theses published after 1996 (if you are faculty/student/staff from GSU then the downloaded copies are free).  
• Browse or search GSU's Electronic Theses & Dissertations database which houses theses and dissertations full-text online with coverage from 2004.   You may also find out how to submit your theses or dissertation to the database.

U.S. Theses/Dissertations

To search for print/online copies:

• Use the  Dissertation & Theses: A&I database.  You will be required to enter your Campus ID for off-campus access.     Dissertations published from 1980 forward include 350- word abstracts written by the author. Master's theses published from 1988 forward include 150-word abstracts. Titles available in PDF formats include free twenty-four page previews. UMI offers over 1.8 million titles for purchase in microform, paper or electronic formats.   You may also request to borrow a copy through Interlibrary Loan if you are GSU faculty, student, or staff.

These catalogs contain keyword and exact searching for holdings at GSU and beyond.