Literature Search Strategy for a Review Paper: Keywords, Databases and Records

Start with the purpose and requirements

Make your literature search traceable so readers can understand what was found and what may have been missed. This guide is a practical starting point, not a replacement for your supervisor’s instructions, university handbook or a journal’s current author guidelines. Requirements vary by discipline and stage, so confirm the applicable rules before drafting or revising your document.

Apply the approach to your document

Break the question into main concepts, list synonyms, and test combinations using the search functions of each database. Record the database name, search date, full search string and limits. One search engine is rarely a complete evidence source. Search updates may be needed before submission if substantial time has passed.

An illustrative example

For merchant payment adoption, combine merchant or retailer terms with digital payment terms and adoption concepts. Test the strategy against relevant papers you already know; if they do not appear, investigate why. This example shows how to reason about the task; it is not a ready-made result, prescribed template or claim about a completed client project. Adapt the approach to your own evidence and approved requirements.

Checks before you move on

Work through these checks on your actual document. If a requirement is unclear, note the question for your supervisor, department or journal rather than guessing. Keep the original draft and a record of significant decisions so revisions remain traceable.

• Record exact search strings
• Keep dates and limits
• Export records without losing source information
• Explain the rationale for database selection

Prepare a review-support enquiry

Explain the review question, intended review type and what you have already completed. A search log, screening record or evidence matrix is more useful than a broad topic alone. Ask for a clearly defined support task before agreeing to drafting or editing. Keep a record of source selection and check every citation against the underlying publication.

Discuss scope and next steps

Academic Compass provides review paper support from Fort, Mumbai for researchers and students across India. Use the Services & Pricing page to review the listed service and WhatsApp to discuss your stage, deadline and required help. Ask for confirmation of the specific deliverables and price before starting. Academic approval, grades and journal acceptance are independent decisions and are not guaranteed.