Search Tracker

Introduction

Use this space to briefly describe the scope, timeline and aim of your Literature Review or research topic.

How to use the Search Tracker

This excel spreadsheet offers a way to plan, organise and retrieve your searches across numerous research- and
in conjunction with other Library guides.

See the further information tab or contact the Library for further help: https://uow.libanswers.com/

Follow the instructions on each tab to get the best results.

You will NOT be able to replicate exactly the same search over several databases.
Use this tool to record exactly how you search and what results you retrieved so you're able to go back at a late

Tabs
Search Results Summary: Use this page to summarise or comment on your searches. Or keep track of all of the

Database tabs: Each tab is for a different database. Change the names of the 'Discipline Database' tabs to suit t
The databases Scopus and Web of Science are great places to start.

Grey Literature: Use this tab to keep track of searches for grey literature.
Key authors or papers: Use this tab to note key authors and papers most relevant to your research.
Other support:
- You should discuss with your lecturer or supervisor if you need advice with compiling or writing your Literatur
- Take a look at the Learning Development Information for students’ website: https://www.uow.edu.au/studen
This site offers seminar series, consultations and resources to help students improve their academic writing –

1 | DOCUMENT TITLE
scipline-specific databases. Use this search tracker

ate and replicate what you have searched.

atabase/platform or publisher accounts you hold.

database you want.

eview or assessment task.

ervices/ld/students/index.html
s includes assistance with referencing.

2 | DOCUMENT TITLE
Search Results Summary
Use this page to summarise or comment on your searches. It can be useful to have a log to share progress with collaborat
OR
Keep track of all of the database/platform or publisher accounts you hold.

Example
EBSCO
User Name Password hint (Remember to Alerts set up? If
keep your password private and to yes, how do you
adhere to usage terms and unsubscribe?
conditions.)

Librarian123 First street you lived in Click on this link…

Scopus
Date Set
1
2
3

Alert set up
 Check the database help page to conduct your search as every database is different.
Scopus is the largest citation and abstract database of peer-reviewed literature and scientific web sources
(covering scientific, technical, medical, social sciences literature as well as arts and humanities).

Search string

If a search alert is set up, record the details here.

The databases usually require the alert to be set up under a single persons registration, and can then
be forwarded to group members as required.
Results Full Text
Saved
Web of Science
Date Set
1
2
3

Alert set up
Web of Science is the leading index to scholarly literature and authors in the sciences and social sciences (1965+),
arts and humanities (1975+). Conference proceedings (1991+).

Search string

If a search alert is set up, record the details here.

The databases usually require the alert to be set up under a single persons registration, and can then
be forwarded to group members as required.
Results Full Text
Saved
Discipline
Database name
Date Set
1
2
3

Alert set up
Check with your teacher or a Librarian about other suitable databases for example if you are researching across
disciplines you may need to use other sources and discipline-specific databases.

Search string

If a search alert is set up, record the details here.

The databases usually require the alert to be set up under a single persons registration, and can then be forwarded
to group members as required.
Results Full Text Saved
Discipline
Database name
Date Set
1
2
3

Alert set up
Check with your teacher or a Librarian about other suitable databases for example if you are researching across
disciplines you may need to use other sources and discipline-specific databases.

Search string

If a search alert is set up, record the details here.

The databases usually require the alert to be set up under a single persons registration, and can then be forwarded
to group members as required.
Results Full Text Saved
Discipline
Database name
Date Set
1
2
3

Alert set up
Check with your teacher or a Librarian about other suitable databases. For example, if you're researching across
disciplines you may need to use other sources and discipline-specific databases.

Search string

If a search alert is set up, record the details here.

The databases usually require the alert to be set up under a single persons registration, and can then be forwarded
to group members as required.
Results Full Text Saved
Grey Literature
What is grey literature?

The Twelfth International Conference on Grey Literature in Prague in 2010 arrived at the following
definition:

Grey literature stands for manifold document types produced on all levels of government, academic,
business and industry in print and electronic formats that are protected by intellectual property rights,
of sufficient quality to be collected and preserved by libraries and institutional repositories, but not
controlled by commercial publishers; i.e. where publishing is not the primary activity of the producing
body.

Advanced Google search

OpenGrey | System for information on grey literature in Europe
A European grey literature databases covering all subject areas including public health and health
related areas. Records are in English and content includes technical and research reports, dissertations,
conference papers, official publications and more.

WHO | IRIS
IRIS is the World Health Organisation's Institutional Repository for Information Sharing. The database
provides access to all World Health Organisation publications.

Google Scholar

Google Scholar: Use Google Scholar in conjunction with subject specific databases available through
UOW Library. Set up Google Scholar Library Links via Scholar Settings to find full text held by
UOW. See Google Scholar’s help pages for more information.
https://scholar.google.com/intl/en/scholar/help.html

Search engine
Search Google for scholarly content only, with links
to UOW subscribed fulltext

Search string Results

Saved as Saved Date
Key authors/papers
Details of
Author/s paper/article/book Source

It is sometimes useful to record who

gave you the reference/paper
Additional keywords/terms from paper/article Location
Where is the document located?
Search for the reference in a well indexed database and record
In the Library, in someone's
the index terms displayed in the record.
office?
Cited Reference search
You may want to record if a cited reference
search has been done (Web of Science) and
where you have saved the search results.
Further Information
You can use this tool in conjunction with other resources and Library
Literature Review Guides.
UOW Learning development
UOW Library Literature Review guide
University of Melbourne Library
Charles Darwin University Library
James Cook University
Deakin University Library
https://www.uow.edu.au/student/services/ld/index.html
http://uow.libguides.com/literaturereview
http://unimelb.libguides.com/lit_reviews
http://libguides.cdu.edu.au/literaturereview (See the Library Resources tab for useful videos)
https://www.jcu.edu.au/library/learn/online-information-skills-training/writing-a-literature-review2
http://www.deakin.edu.au/library/study/literature-review
tab for useful videos)