Aula 11: Luciana Brito, Revisão e Levantamento da literatura

Introduction to Literature Review

Overview of the Speaker and Context

• Luciana Brito introduces herself as a psychologist with a master's in clinical psychology and a doctorate in public health, currently working at Anis - Instituto de Bioética.

• The conversation is part of an academic writing course led by Professor Rosana Pinheiro Machado, focusing on literature review processes.

Purpose of the Discussion

• The session aims to discuss literature review methodologies for understanding research topics and theories.

• Emphasizes the importance of literature reviews in identifying gaps in previous studies and consolidating findings within a field.

Phases of Literature Review

Importance of Literature Review

• Literature reviews are essential throughout academic life, aiding in formulating research questions and selecting appropriate methodologies.

• The speaker outlines three main parts: initiating a literature review, creating a map of literature/authors, and using bibliographic organizers like Mendeley.

Starting the Literature Review

• Initiating a review depends on one's academic stage; suggestions include exploring personal interests or revisiting past coursework.

• A "textual tour" approach is recommended for beginners to refine broad topics into specific research questions.

Developing Research Questions

Refining Topics into Questions

• Broad topics can be narrowed down into focused research questions through textual exploration, such as linking domestic violence with public health emergencies from feminist perspectives.

Utilizing Previous Coursework

• Returning to previously studied texts can help identify key themes and keywords relevant to new research interests.

Keywords and Their Significance

Identifying Keywords

• Keywords are crucial descriptors that facilitate effective searches for relevant literature; understanding them is vital for navigating academic databases.

Prioritizing Article Reading

Importance of Keywords in Research

Choosing Effective Keywords

• Keywords are crucial for articles; broad terms like "violence" yield irrelevant results. Specific phrases, such as "domestic violence," enhance search accuracy.

• Start research with current texts to navigate limitations of time and expectations. Recognize that real-world constraints affect the research process.

Managing Time Effectively

• Acknowledge the importance of time management in literature review. High expectations can lead to feelings of inadequacy, but understanding available time is essential.

• Begin literature searches with recent publications (e.g., from 2020), as they often reference foundational works, allowing a clearer path through the literature.

Strategies for Literature Search

Recommended Platforms and Techniques

• Utilize Scielo, a virtual library with extensive Brazilian and Latin American journals, for accessing relevant articles efficiently.

• Employ Boolean operators ("and," "or," "not") to refine searches. For example, use “violência doméstica” AND “saúde pública” to focus on specific topics.

Advanced Search Techniques

• Use quotation marks around phrases to ensure exact matches in search results. This prevents unrelated articles from appearing.

• Explore synonyms using OR operator (e.g., “violência doméstica” OR “violência baseada em gênero”) to broaden search scope while maintaining relevance.

Analyzing Articles and Literature Review

Evaluating Article Relevance

• Exclude unwanted topics using NOT operator (e.g., NOT “autores homens”) to filter out irrelevant content during searches.

• Review articles provide comprehensive overviews of research fields and can accelerate understanding by summarizing key theories and topics.

Conducting a Thorough Literature Review

• Cross-reference citations within reviewed articles to trace influential works and authors in your area of study.

• Pay close attention to abstracts when evaluating articles; they reveal central themes, methodologies, and conclusions critical for your review process.

Organizing Your Research Findings

Creating a Literature Map

How to Organize Your Literature Review

Creating Filters for Article Selection

• It's essential to create filters based on your available time, deadlines, and reading speed. This helps in selecting articles effectively.

• Begin by reading abstracts to categorize articles into two piles: "may read" and "definitely will read." This initial sorting is crucial for efficient literature management.

Mapping Authors and Literature

• Developing a mental map of authors after reviewing literature aids in organization. It may take the form of diagrams or lists, depending on personal preference.

• A recommended resource for creating these maps is John Creswell's book "Metodologia de Pesquisa," which discusses author mapping in detail.

Structuring Your Literature Map

• Define your main research question or topic before creating a literature map. The structure can be hierarchical with topics and subtopics.

• An example provided involves studying media framing of crack cocaine, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between public health and security perspectives.

Setting Boundaries for Research

• Recognizing when to stop searching for references is vital; understanding your own pace will help set realistic goals.

• Break down your timeline into manageable weekly goals to track progress effectively over an 8-week period.

Importance of Reading and Using Bibliography Managers

• Continuous reading expands knowledge but managing bibliographic references is equally important due to time constraints.

Mendeley: A Comprehensive Tool for Managing Your Research

Introduction to Mendeley

• Mendeley is a free tool designed for managing and storing a virtual library, including books, articles, and various texts.

• It organizes references based on metadata such as title, authorship, publication details, and more.

Features of Mendeley

• Users can create thematic folders to organize texts by subject or author, making it easier to locate materials later.

• Accessible from any device with internet access; Mendeley operates in the cloud allowing synchronization across devices.

• The platform supports group collaboration where users can share resources and annotate documents together.

Networking and Recommendations

• Functions like a social network; users can find other researchers and view their public reference lists without exposing PDFs.

• After building a library, Mendeley suggests relevant articles based on user preferences through email notifications.

Integration with Word

• Offers a plugin for Microsoft Word that allows users to cite references directly in their documents using various citation styles (e.g., ABNT, APA).

• This feature saves time when citing multiple references by automating the process within Word.

Conclusion

• The speaker highly recommends trying out Mendeley for its efficiency in organizing research materials and enhancing productivity.