This higher level training series on conducting literature reviews is delivered by colleagues across and beyond the ESRC Southwest Doctoral Training Partnership. This series aims to benefit the development of all researchers, but is especially designed with postgraduate researchers in mind.
How do you search for articles in a systematic way?
Held online at 11:00 – 12:00, 13th February 2025
Speaker: Rosey Crow, Subject Librarian (School of Education and School of Policy Studies), University of Bristol
In this webinar, we will explore the difference between a “traditional” literature review and one that draws on systematic methodologies. We will examine what is meant by a “comprehensive” search and how to build a robust search strategy, delve into searching in various databases, and discuss how to manage the screening of our results.
Systematic literature reviews can be used in your doctoral dissertation. They are often commissioned by organisations that need background information to inform a budget decision, policy advocacy or to bid for funding, so it is a useful skill for anyone planning a career as a social science researcher.
This webinar is delivered by Rosey Crow who is Subject librarian for the School of Education and the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol.
Resources
How do you choose a reference manager?
Held online at 11:00 – 12:00, 27th February 2025
Speaker: Kerriane Orriss, Teaching and Learning Librarian, University of Bristol
With so many options available, choosing a reference manager can be overwhelming and confusing. In this 60-minute webinar, we will look at three of the most commonly-used reference managers: Endnote, Mendeley and Zotero. We will explore key considerations such as the learning curve of the software, their compatibility with word processors and how easily they import various file formats. There will be a demonstration of each reference manager, illustrating their main features and advantages, as well as a quick comparison of the software and their pros and cons.
Choosing a reference manager is essential in the early stages of doctoral research and when collaborating on a literature review within a research team.
This is the second webinar in the SWDTP literature review series and is presented by Kerrianne Orriss, who is a Teaching and Learning Librarian at the University of Bristol. Please note this session will be recorded. Some limited participation may be elicited in the session (no breakout groups).
Resources
Please note the slides are an extended version of those used in the presentation, and contain more information that you may find useful. Some materials may contain information that is specific to the University of Bristol.
Unlock the Power of Corpus-Based Techniques for systematic literature reviews
Held online at 15:00 – 16:00, 2nd April 2025
Speaker: Dr Reka Jablonkai, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), the Department of Education, University of Bath; Research Group Convenor for the Language in and for Education Research Group, University of Bath
Advances in computer technology made it possible to create and use large language databases often referred to as corpora in language studies. A recent development in the field is to apply corpus-based approaches to a wide range of areas beyond linguistic analysis (Pérez-Paredes, 2021; Seale & Charteris-Black, 2010). This webinar will showcase how both quantitative and qualitative corpus analysis techniques—such as keyword analysis, analysis of collocation (frequently co-occurring words), keywords in context, and multi-word items—can be effectively utilized to identify and examine key themes for systematic literature reviews. Mastering corpus-based techniques is useful for researchers and PhD students as it allows for a more systematic and comprehensive analysis of existing literature. These skills enable participants to uncover patterns and themes that might be missed through traditional methods, thereby enhancing the depth and rigour of research.
Resources
Conducting a Systematic Scoping Review: Methods and Insights from a Study on the Indian Diaspora and Education
Held online at 11:00 – 12:00, 3rd April 2025
Speaker: Dr Rita Chawla-Duggan, Associate Professor and Deputy Head, Department of Education, University of Bath.
This webinar, part of our Conducting Literature Reviews webinar series, explores the process of conducting a systematic scoping review. Using a worked example on education in the post-independence Indian diaspora, the session will outline the five-stage framework of Arksey and O’Malley (2005), covering search strategies, inclusion criteria, and thematic analysis. It will also discuss challenges in refining search terms, identifying relevant literature, and synthesising findings. This presentation provides practical guidance for doctoral students on conducting rigorous scoping reviews and demonstrates their value in mapping research landscapes.
Resources
Making your literature review count
Held online, 11:00-12:00, Mon 12 May 2025
Speakers:
Dr Nasrul Ismail, Senior Lecturer in Criminology in the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol; co-editor of Justice, Power and Resistance (Bristol University Press); serves on the International Advisory Board for the International Journal of Prison Health; SWDTP alumnus.
Dr Freya Wise, SWDTP-awarded ESRC Research Fellow at UWE Bristol in the Centre for Advanced Built Environment Research (CABER); Visiting Fellow at The Open University.
The literature review is a key part of your doctoral thesis. It takes time to develop and builds an original argument. So, why not make it available to others by turning it into a peer-reviewed publication? In this session of our Conducting Literature Reviews webinar series, two early career researchers (ECRs) will talk about how they used their literature reviews in publications and gain recognition in their field.
Resources
Dr Freya Wise’s slides are not available for wider circulation
Workshop on Critical Interpretive Synthesis
Held online, 11:00-12:00, Tues 20 May 2025
Speaker: Dr Rafael Mitchell, Senior Lecturer, Department of Education, University of Bristol.
This session introduces critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) as a systematic approach to collating, reviewing and synthesising a diverse body of research evidence. CIS aims to produce fresh insights on an issue of concern, drawing on techniques that are common in qualitative inquiry, such as the ongoing refinement of research questions and an iterative process of data collection and analysis. I will share my own experiences of using CIS in solo and collaborative projects in the field of education (Mitchell, 2025). In this interactive session we will consider CIS in relation to other approaches to systematic review, comparing their logics and processes. We will consider the affordances and challenges of using CIS in a doctoral research project, and strategies for incorporating CIS within your own work.
Reference: Mitchell, R. (2025). Using critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) for theoretical development: Mobilising African education research. In Sage Research Methods Cases Part 1. SAGE Publications, Ltd., https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071984185