On this page
Introduction:
This web page is intended to help you find information for your URB 696 Literature Review. As this is only a brief introduction to some of the possible sources at SFU Library, please contact Nina Smart, , at or nsmart@sfu.ca () for one-on-one researcher assistance. For brief or non subject-specific questions there is also Ask a Librarian.
Methodology Resources
or: How will I conduct my research?
SRMO is "designed to answer methods questions that arise during the various steps of the research process, including the literature search, review, research design, data collection, analysis, and write up" You can start with the Project Planner for "step-by-step guidance to complete your research project"
Examples of types of materials:
Encyclopedia article: Conceptual Framework (DOI)
Video: Tips for Conducting a Qualitative Interview (DOI)
Book chapter: "Asking Questions: Effective Elite Interviews..." (DOI)
For visual learners see: Methods Map to see how research concepts are related
Note: This excellent resource can now be accessed by SFU alumni!
- SFU Urban Studies research projects to see how other students approached their research
2019 example: Tools of the trade: How tool selection increases challenges in the work of binners in North-Central Surrey - Proquest Dissertations and Theses Abstracts and Index Excellent international resource for seeing how other grad students did their research. Sample Subject searches: "Urban planning" or "Urban Studies". If an items is not available viar open access you can request it via SFU interlibrary loans
- Finally, you can search journal databases under fairly broad topics and limit to "Qualitative Study" etc. Note: not all databases have extensive indexing for methodology. (e.g. not GEOBASE, despite having controlled terms)
Books:
- Fundamentals of social research [print] aka "The Babbie" - older editions of this classic work also available
- Research design in urban planning : a student's guide [online]
Literature review
or: How will I find materials for my capstone literature review?
Remember that graduate research is generally not a straight line, but involves iterative searching - you are not doing anything wrong if you are taking an indirect path, searching many resources, and using different kinds of materials
General guides:
- Literature reviews for graduate students SFU Research Commons guide
- The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It University of Toronto
General database search tips:
- use truncation, e.g. transport* to find transportation, transported, etc. all at once
- syntax: use AND to narrow and OR to broaden search
- pearl-growing, or starting with a good article and finding more (see YouTube tutorial, which uses an EBSCO database)
- search the database's Thesaurus to find useful subject headings/descriptors
- More search tips in How to find journal articles
Journal articles
Examples of academic article databases (for more databases see listing Urban Studies Databases):
GEOBASE
Human geography, urban planning
Environment Complete
Urban planning, public policy
Sociological Abstracts
Urban sociology, social policy
TRID
Transportation research, also covers conference and trade resources (for their subject headings see TRT - Transportation Research Thesaurus)
You can also search a single journal:
Geography Compass, for instance, covers peer-reviewed surveys of topics in human geography
Citation indexes
or: travelling forward in time
To find newer articles when you have a good but older article:
Scopus
Major source for research for cited references - not even UBC has it, but we do, until at least the end of 2022!
Web of Science
another classic citation database
You can also use Google Scholar (this link includes SFU journal access) to see the "Cited By" results
Some databases, such as GEOBASE, also have the "Cited by/Times cited in this database" function
See also Backwards and forwards citation chaining post from Radical Access
Newspaper article and other databases
While a literature review very often covers academic research in the form of journal articles and monographs, an Urban Studies literature review can also include newspaper articles, primary resources, grey literature and maps/GIS. Some links:
News resources: Finding newspaper articles and newspapers
Newspaper articles are very often the only place to find information about very new or very specific topics
Examples:
CBCA Complete fulltext index on Canadian topics, including newspaper articles
Canadian Newsstream national and local papers
Primary sources for the Humanities SFU guide
Examples: City of Vancouver Archives and Vancouver Public Library's Vancouver History
Grey literature: What it is & how to find it finding materials such as government reports and urban plans
Example: Canada Commons. Canadian public policy documents from government and nonprofit organizations as well as think tanks
Proquest Dissertations and Theses Abstracts and Index, as listed above, is another valuable resource for grey literature
Resources on information literacy and evaluating sources
What is information literacy?
"An information literate individual is able to:
Determine the extent of information needed
Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
Evaluate information and its sources critically
Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally."
From: Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), American Library Association
See also:
video from the University of Guelph
video from the NVL library
Evaluating sources
In brief, consider: Authority; Content; Scope; Currency; Objectivity
Finding and evaluating resources
SFU guide: who, what, where, when and why
What is a scholarly (or peer-reviewed) journal?
SFU guide "will help you identify and evaluate scholarly (also known as peer-reviewed) journals, magazines, and trade publications — both print and online"
How do I assess a publisher, journal, or conference?
Section "Publishing choices" of the Scholarly publishing page, but also useful for researchers to evaluate publishers and journals
Critical Appraisal for Skill Program (CASP)
Including CASP Checklists for systematic reviews, cohorts or qualitative studies, and more. Created for healthcare workers, but useful for many researchers
Designing social research: a guide for the bewildered [online and print] See Chapter 2, "Reviewing What Other People Have Said – or How Can I Tell If Others' Research Is Any Good?"
All about journals
A-Z journals
SFU's complete journal listing; search by title keyword or ISSN, including
Is a journal peer-reviewed and where is it indexed? To find out, start with FAQ:
What is peer review? What is a peer-reviewed journal?
Key journals for Urban studies
Quick links for titles held at SFU
Beall's List of Potential Predatory Journals and Publishers continuing the work of Mr. Beall
Keeping track of your research and citing
- For creating the bibliography/references section see Urban Studies information resources: Citing
- Citation management software SFU mainly uses Zotero. For general citation help contact citation-managers@sfu.ca
- NVivo software can also be used to keep track of references; for help you can book an NVivo consultation
Thesis writing
Thesis assistance: Templates and resources for preparing and submitting your thesis including the direct Thesis templates link
You can book a consultation with our Assistant for Theses (you may also email theses@sfu.ca)
Writing services offered by the Research Commons
Example: the excellent Read Ahead service, for feedback on any academic writing assignment
Fall 2024:
Thesis Writing Retreat renowned three-day session. It gets results and is very popular!
RC writing workshops and more general Write What You Are (Vowel) - online writing group
Other useful resources:
- Book: Complete your dissertation or thesis in two semesters or less [print]
- Find more books under SFU Catalogue Browse by subject: Dissertations Academic Handbooks Manuals Etc
- Project Planner section of SRMO
- Dissertation Calculator University of Minnesota