Doctor of Education (Ed.D) Research (LPO, LLO): FAQs

Question: How do you get past a pay wall for reports, articles, and data that Vanderbilt University does not have a subscription to?

Answer: Request materials using Interlibrary Loan Service, using the link below:

Question: How do I get access to a book that I am not seeing listed in the library catalog?

Answer: Contact your librarian! The library may be able to purchase a copy for you to use. For distance students, we may be able to purchase an e-book or audio book copy.

Question: What is the best citation management system? What works? Do you recommend one for the Capstone and why?

Answer: Some of the top options are Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote. Peabody Librarians David Golann and Sarah Stevenson provide support and trainings on Zotero and Mendeley. For a comparison and details about each software, visit the Citation Management Guide linked below:

Question: How do I use a citation management system?

Answer: There are several different resources available on how to use each citation manager. See the Citation Management Guide above for links to tutorials created by the software vendors. For a comprehensive video on using Zotero, click the Video Tutorials link below.

Question: How do I save searches done in a library database or the library catalog?

Answer: You can create permanent links/URLs to your searches or items from your searches to store in your Literature Review Table (LLO Program) or a spreadsheet where you are tracking your research process. These links will take you directly back to the article you found or the search you conducted. Please note that saving your browser link will not work. You must look for the little chain link icon to generate a permanent link in the catalog or library database.

Saving Permalinks to Catalog Items: When looking at an item in the catalog, click on the Pin Icon to save to your Library Account or click Permalink to get the URL.

Saving Links to Library Database Items: When looking at an item record in a library database like ERIC, look for a chain link icon. In the database shown below, click on "All Options."

Then copy the document URL at the top of the pop up.

Saving Links to Library Database Searches: Once you have created a search in a database that you want to keep for later, click on the "Get search link."

Copy and paste the search link provided. If you want to keep for longer than one year, you can create a My Research account via ProQuest.

Question: What is the most effective way to track search terms that have yielded the best results?

Answer: Use your Literature Review Table (LLO Program) or a spreadsheet to keep track of the search strings you have created (keywords, Boolean Operators). Note where you have used these search strings as well (e.g. database name, Google Scholar, etc.)

Question: How do you track modifications to search parameters?

Answer: The easiest way to track this is to document, document, document. As you are searching and revising your search strings, have a spreadsheet open and copy/paste. Here's a sample table layout - feel free to design your own to include data you want to keep track of! You could add number of results, note which articles came from which search, etc.

Question: How do you track the intersections between the literature to synthesize and cite appropriately.

Answer: This depends on what strategy you are using to manage your citations. In your literature review, you are telling the story of the greater context for your research – how has our understanding of the problem or issue evolved over time? Who are the key thinkers? etc. In your review, you will demonstrate to your reader that you have a comprehensive knowledge of this context because your searching was strategic and thorough.

• Research Log Coding: In a spreadsheet, keep track of key themes and conclusions from each article you read. This can be as simple as creating a column in your table where you add simple categories you generate.
• Citation Manager: If you are using Zotero, you can create tags for each article and use those to group similar sources for comparison.
• Sorting and Flagging Your Piles: If you have your articles printed out, sort them into piles based on theme, time period, etc. Use sticky notes or page flags to mark where different themes show up in the articles.

Good synthesis in writing is putting your articles into conversation with one another. Your literature review will not be chronological list of sources like an annotated bibliography. You will want to think about the key themes you are seeing and discuss these. Another strategy could be to think about how the topic has developed over time and which articles are from each time period. What do they say? What are they missing? Has the language about that topic changed over time? Compare conclusions of various authors. This is setting the stage for you to add your own voice to the conversation.