Literature searching for dissertations in Management and Business

Why do a literature search?
The citation tree
Recording the search and bibliographic references
Recording your search strategy
How to begin
Closing off the citation tree
Checking previous theses or dissertations and research in progress
Interlibrary loans
Further sources of information

This handout is intended to explain the process of literature searching and some of the most important sources that should be used in the subjects of Management and Business Studies. It is aimed to assist research into the more academic aspects of these subjects. Anyone wishing to find company or marketing information should consult the two separate handouts, which cover these areas.

Only basic details can be provided in this brief document. Many other sources than the ones mentioned here are available. Please consult members of the Subject Team if you have particular interests or problems finding literature. For a more thorough explanation of the process and sources see the publications listed in the final section, from which these notes have been made.

Why do a literature search?

1 To help to choose a topic. Having decided the area in which to work, undertaking a broad review of the literature in the area can provide some fruitful ideas. Also, it is possible to assess the novelty of promising ideas.

2 Leading on from the previous point, it is sometimes necessary, depending on the level of the work, to check that the research has not been done before.

3 Perhaps most obviously, to find research that has been undertaken and can contribute to the work at hand. Every researcher builds on the work of previous authors. When presenting the findings of research the author should acknowledge their work and outline his/her own contribution to the field. A dissertation submitted for a higher degree will be expected to contain a section headed "Literature Search" where the whole field is critically reviewed.

The citation tree

The initial purpose of the literature searcher is to build up a picture of what is referred to as the Citation Relevance Tree by Sharp et al (2002). When beginning a literature search the academic convention of providing accurate bibliographical references of the sources the author has used will be more fully appreciated. By looking at the citations of various recent works it is possible to piece together a picture of recent research in the area of study - the whole network of citations, mentioned sometimes again and again, leading to the more seminal works in the field, that is to say, the works that inspired the whole new area of study.

The works that are frequently mentioned can be thought if as the core works (see below), the books by particular authors and the journal articles and journals in which they are published that are cited so frequently that it becomes obvious are they are really important academic works to follow up. In other words, it is possible to discern the Citation Tree. Other writers prefer the idea of clusters of academic works focussed on particular areas within the subject.

Recording the search and bibliographic references

Before considering how to begin, it is worth noting that it is essential to record references systematically and accurately when undertaking a search. Jotting down only the author and title of a work is not sufficient to find it weeks later when the source of the reference has been forgotten. The traditional recommendation was that a supply of catalogue cards and a box file should be used. References should be recorded in full on a card in the bibliographically correct manner, and then filed alphabetically. Research Guide 2 "Citing your references using the Harvard system" is available to help you. The Business School prefers the Harvard system of bibliographic citations. The guide is also available at: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/resources/harvard.doc

However, these days, as an alternative to cards, Endnote bibliographic software may help. This allows you to enter bibliographic details directly into a database, or it is possible to download the results of searches on journals databases directly. Another saving of effort can be made when producing a list of references which can be done automatically in any format required by Endnote. However, note that Endnote will not be able to cope with the Brookes preferred method of referencing a document retrieved electronically, e.g.: "[Online]. Retrieved on XX November 200X from XXXXXXX database http://XXXXXXXX.com"

If you want to explore Endnote, or go on a training course, look at: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/endnote.html

In addition to noting down the reference, its source should be noted, and the subsequent sources in which it is found. This is necessary firstly because details of sources must be provided if applications for material are made through the Inter-Library Loans system (see the later section). Secondly, this will help to determine the most frequently cited sources- the core works, authors and journals as explained above.

Recording your search strategy

You may be required to show evidence of systematic review of literature in your searches of databases to show that you have used the same search terms and search strategy to retrieve everything of importance in different databases. You should record all of your searches and the numbers of results in a table appended to your dissertation. The two major journals databases, Business Source Complete and Emerald recommended below provide a record of the searches entered.

Business Source Complete provides a tab "Search History" at the top of the list of results. The first search is given a number S1, the second S2 etc. and these can be used as shorthand for previous searches and combined with new search terms. This enables quite lengthy and complicated searches to be built up step by step. Emerald provides a search history if you scroll down to the bottom of the search screen, but it does not provide the same facility for combining old searches with new terms. You must therefore consider this difference because it would not be possible to replicate exactly the same searches in Emerald if you used the search numbers in Business Source Complete. At least, however, it provides a record of what you did.

As the separate handout "Searching databases" explains, more focused results can be obtained if you search under the subject index terms (or keywords in Emerald) that have been selected by the indexer to describe the content of the article. These are selected from an agreed list of subject terms (thesaurus) that every indexer has to use to keep indexes consistent. Searchers must ensure they use the subject terms in the thesaurus that the indexers used.

However, indexing terms vary from database to database. "Small business" is used in Business Source Complete and "small enterprise" in Emerald. "Labor" not "Labour" is the spelling used in Business Source Complete, an American database. Business Source Complete provides the thesaurus for you to browse. Emerald does not and it is necessary to do test searches and then see if the terms you used appear on the keywords field under the abstracts. Your record of your search strategy should show how indexing terms translate in other databases. This leads us neatly into the practical advice offered in paragraph 1 in the section below on exploring your subject and all the possible terms that could be used.

Before moving on, remember that indexing is a matter of the indexer using their judgement about the focus of the article and knowing the thesaurus well. Indexing can be very inconsistent and imprecise. Searching databases is very much a matter of serendipity. So, keep searches simple and try every possible combination of search terms until you feel you have found every relevant article. Do not allow the requirement to be systematic stop you from experimenting, but you may have to go back and enter the successful searches in databases you have searched previously.

Finally although searching subject indexes/keywords can give more focused results do not be afraid to enter free text searches that usually search for terms everywhere in the citation and abstract. Some new subjects may not have an entry in the database thesaurus. In Business Source Complete "contracting out" is the indexing term used for "outsourcing" and entering the latter as a free text search can retrieve some interesting results. For subjects that are very difficult to find, Business Source Complete has a further facility for finding search entries within the full text of the article that is not available in Emerald.

How to begin

1 Consult encyclopaedias, guides, handbooks and dictionaries available in the Quick Reference section under the class numbers for management and business studies subjects. These will help to DEFINE the particular area of study, and to build up a list of KEYWORDS and synonyms under which searches can be made in some of the sources below.

The main Management and Business Encyclopaedias are:

The International Encyclopaedia of Business and Management (Quick Reference 658.003 INT in Wheatley Library)
This gives lengthy articles on most areas of study in these subjects, and includes short bibliographies of the standard works in each area.

21st Century management: a reference handbook (Quick Reference 658 TWE in Wheatley Library)
These two substantial volumes provide 100 entries on the key issues and topics currently being confronted in management. Brief introductory bibliographies are provided. This is a good place to see where current management thinking is and an excellent place to seek inspiration for a topic for your dissertation.

Blackwell Encyclopaedic Dictionaries (Quick Reference 658 BLA in Wheatley Library)
Give much shorter definitions of many terms in several volumes devoted to particular areas of management, including: organisational behaviour, marketing, accounting, business ethics, information systems, international management, operations management, marketing, human resource management etc.

2 Use the Subject Search facility on the Library's computerised CATALOGUE. Type in a subject (try synonyms if unsuccessful) and it will provide a list of relevant class numbers. The computer can also list the titles at these numbers. Hopefully there will be some relevant books that contain comprehensive bibliographies and the literature search can begin. It is now also possible to search other University library catalogues, including the Bodleian Library, via the library web page guide at: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/otherlib.html

Books not available at Oxford Brookes, may be requested through inter-library loans (see below).

3 Searching DATABASES is another important first step. The best place to start is by searching:

Business Source Complete
This database available on EBSCOhost contains the full text and abstracts of management, business and economics journals, 1780 of which are peer reviewed (i.e. academic or scholarly) and of these 1160 are full text. Of the peer reviewed titles (abstracted or full text) 1145 now have searchable cited references. This increases the search power of the database hugely. Journals are listed in the Library A-Z of electronic titles.

For 60% of all titles on the database there is an embargo of 3-18 months on the current issues of journals, but you can keep yourself informed of the contents of new journals by using a service Zetoc or Ingenta (see below). The full text of some core journals such as the Harvard Business Review is available back to 1965, and many more are currently being added back until then. See the separate handout and web page for details.

Internet database (available off campus using ATHENS authentication, see the EBSCOhost guide for details).
Abstracts and full text available.

Emerald
The Emerald database contains the full text of approximately 80 management and business journals published by MCB University Press. Full text dates back to 1994, but copies of articles abstracted form 1989 -1993 can be ordered free of charge from the Subject Librarian. See the separate handout and web pages for details.

Internet database (available off campus using ATHENS authentication, see the Emerald guide for details).
Abstracts and full text available.

ZETOC
The British Library's Electronic Table of Contents (ETOC) service covers 15,000,000 articles from about 20,000 current journals and 16,000 conference proceedings. All subjects are covered, including business, management and economics. Coverage starts in 1993 and the database is updated daily. Apart from undertaking subject searches that produce citations, you can set up a personal e-mail alerting service to inform you of the contents of new journals. Articles of interest not held by Oxford Brookes University can be obtained through the Inter-Library Loans Service (see below). Instructions are available via the ZETOC site at: http://zetoc.mimas.ac.uk

Internet database (available off campus using ATHENS authentication).
Citations only.

Ingenta journals
It is possible to search and retrieve abstracts of articles from management and business journals produced by a number of publishers. Note that the journals produced by MCB Press are available from Emerald above. Ingenta is accessed via BIDS, which uses ATHENS authentication. See the BIDS handouts and ATHENS web pages for details. Available via: http://www.bids.ac.uk

Internet database via BIDS using ATHENS authentication.
Abstracts and citations.

International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS)
This gives access to bibliographic references taken from over 2,600 international social sciences journals and around 6,000 books per year. Although not containing core material for management and business, it may be useful in more peripheral areas. It is available via EBSCOhost. Available via: http://opac.brookes.ac.uk/www-bin/ejnls?CN=S0012721OX

Internet database (Available off campus using ATHENS authentication, see the guide for details)
Abstracts and citations.

Social Science Citation index (Social Scisearch)
This does not cover core management journals, but can be helpful in more peripheral areas. Bibliographic references from over 1400 journals in the behavioural and social sciences are provided. It is available via the Web of Science which uses ATHENS authentication. See the Web of Science handouts and web pages for details. Available via: http://wok.mimas.ac.uk

Internet database via Web of Science using ATHENS authentication.
Abstracts and citations only.

Google Scholar
This is freely available on the internet and enables you to search specifically for scholarly literature, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from all broad areas of research. Available at: http://scholar.google.com

Freely available via the internet.
Citations only.

Other databases
Check the list of all databases available in the University. Others may prove to be useful in more peripheral areas. PsycLit, provides useful references in the organisational behaviour and consumer behaviour areas, and EconLit provides useful references in Economics.

4 Although superseded by the CD-ROM and internet databases above is worth mentioning printed ABSTRACTS and INDEXES. At Wheatley Library runs of Anbar, Business Periodicals Index and SCIMP are available back to 1980, and might still prove to be useful to anyone who wants to research the complete history of a topic. All were cancelled when the CD-ROMs were purchased.

5 Look for BIBLIOGRAPHIES, which are books devoted to listing citations under subject headings rather than a section at the end of a chapter or a book. As with CD-ROMs, abstracts may be provided. It is possible to use the Subject Search facility on the Library's Catalogue to locate bibliographies. Type in the word "Bibliographies" and every subject for which they are available will be listed with its class number. Most will be located in the 016's in the Library's Quick Reference Sections. Again, it is possible to check what is available at each class number by using the Catalogue.

One general bibliography which (in theory at least) covers every book published in the United Kingdom is:
British National Bibliography
This is available in the Headington and Wheatley Quick Reference Sections at 015.41 BRI. It is organised like a library catalogue with entries by author and Dewey class number, and there is also a detailed subject index. It is possible to look through the 658.8's, for example, to find books on all aspects of marketing.

6 The INTERNET may provide some useful material. However, it is not the answer to everyone's information needs, or a substitute for literature searching. Consult the Brookes Library web page on Business and economics sources on the Internet. This includes some useful databses, such as uk online, the governments own web site which gives access to many thousand s of useful documents. Use web searching programmes, especially Alta Vista to do an individually tailored subject search.

7 Contact useful ORGANISATIONS and LIBRARIES. Many trade associations, government departments, professional bodies and academic institutions may be able to provide information or may allow you to use their information services. There is a handout, "UK Business Libraries" available on the largest libraries that may be useful to Management and Business Studies students. It lists the Quick Reference works available in the Library that will act as guides to hundreds of specialist information services. It also gives details of the borrowing schemes for which part timers, distance learners and researchers may be eligible. There is an equivalent web page available at: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/business/sources.html

Membership of the Bodleian Library of the University of Oxford is available to postgraduate students and undergraduate students researching for dissertations, but admittance is not automatic. Ask a member of the subject team. Other Libraries in the University of Oxford may be used if you ask the Subject team.

8 Consult your SUBJECT LIBRARIAN. As stated in the introduction, this is intended to be a brief introduction to Literature Searching. There are many sources that cannot be listed here - asking a Librarian is the quickest and most practical way of obtaining leads.

Closing off the citation tree

Anyone undertaking a literature search may be overwhelmed by huge numbers of references. It is necessary to close off the citation tree. The following may help:

1 Searchers should try to discern the CORE works, authors and journals in which relevant work seems to appear. These core materials can be discerned by the frequency with which citations appear when undertaking the initial quick broad scan of the literature. The advice in the section on recording the results of the search will help the process. Most concentrated efforts should be made in following up these core elements.

2 It may be decided to limit by TIME by selecting a publication date before which references will not be chased. Management and Business Studies are fast moving subjects - references that are ten years old have probably, in many instances, lost their relevance, which is usually not the case in the humanities.

3 It may be decided to limit GEOGRAPHICALLY, following up work from only the UK and USA.

4 Related to the last point you may limit by LANGUAGE, using English language material only. For proficient speakers of other European languages the Helecon CD-ROM is available which covers European management literature.

5 Finally, it may be decided to limit the search to Oxford Brookes University LIBRARY. This will depend on the level of work being undertaken. An undergraduate producing a short project may not have the time or finances to look beyond the Library. Anyone undertaking research for a higher degree will certainly be expected to obtain literature from other sources.

Checking previous theses or dissertations and research in progress

Most undergraduate and postgraduate students may be interested in looking at examples of previous dissertations. Previous dissertations produced at Oxford Brookes University Business School (excluding Hotel and Restaurant Management) are in the Library Catalogue. Management and Business Studies dissertations can be consulted at Wheatley Library and cannot be taken out of the Library. Research Guide 18 "Business dissertations", explains how to search on the Catalogue. It is available in the Library or at: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/guides/businessd2005.doc

Anyone researching for a research degree, MPhil or Phd may need to ensure that their research area has not already been covered by a thesis or dissertation. It may be that some contribute to their area of study. They will need to look beyond the Library. Three sources assist in finding what has been published:

ASLIB index to theses
Provides abstracts of all theses accepted for higher degrees in the United Kingdom. An internet version is available at http://www.theses.com/ and covers the period from 1970 onwards; ask for the passwords.

Interlibrary loans

Items not available in the Library may be obtained through the Interlibrary Loans service. Forms are available at the Library counter. The importance of providing full accurate details, and preferably the source of the reference, has already been mentioned in a previous section. A charge is made for the service. Allow a minimum of two weeks for the item to arrive. Some items may take much longer.

Further sources of information

The following will help to provide further explanation:
Jankowicz, A.D. (2004) Business research projects, 4th edition, London: Business Press
Quinton, Sarah and Smallbone, Teresa (2006) Postgraduate research in business: a critical guide, London: Sage
Saunders, M. et al (2009) Research methods for business students, 5th edition, London: Financial Times Prentice Hall
Sharp, J.A. et al (2002) The management of a student research project, 3rd edition, Aldershot: Gower