Literature Searches

A literature review is not a summary; it is an argument. Learn to search databases, build search queries, and evaluate paper quality.

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Purpose of a Review

Moving beyond mere summary to build a scientific argument.

A literature review is not a neutral book report that lists 'Author X said Y.' Rather, it is a structured scientific argument that justifies why your research question matters (Creswell, 2018).

Four primary purposes of a review

Establishes what is currently known and consensus points.
Refines your research question and variables based on past designs.
Informs your choice of experimental methods and statistical tests.
Identifies gaps in the literature that your study aims to fill.

Interactive Simulator

Google Scholar Quality Screening

Select a topic. Review the 5 simulated Google Scholar results, and check the box next to the 3 best, most rigorous, and peer-reviewed papers to build your literature review.

Topic

Microplastic ingestion impairs filtration rate and lysosomal membrane stability in Mytilus edulisJ Smith, H Cole - Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2021We exposed blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) to high-density polystyrene microplastics over 28 days. Results reveal a statistically significant 30% reduction in average filtration rate (p < 0.01) and severe cellular lysosomal degradation. Well-controlled laboratory study with 120 replicates.Cited by 142
Opinion: Why plastic bans are over-exaggerated by marine interest groupsR Miller - Marine Plastics Blog, 2019In this blog post, I discuss why the alarmism regarding plastic particles in oceans is unscientific. My observations on local beaches suggest that shell fragments are more abundant than plastic fibers. Not peer-reviewed, theoretical opinion.Cited by 2
Dose-dependent effects of polystyrene microplastics on the respiration and filtration of oysters (Crassostrea gigas)A Garcia, L Zhang - Environmental Science & Technology, 2020We investigated the physiological response of Crassostrea gigas to three concentrations of polystyrene microplastics (10, 100, 1000 particles/L). We observed a dose-dependent reduction in clearance rate, validated with negative control groups (p = 0.02). Robust experimental design.Cited by 98
High School Biology Pilot Project: Microplastic toxicity in a home tankT Thompson - Science Fair Reports, 2018We placed 3 mussels in a 10-gallon aquarium and added plastic dust from a nearby workshop. Over 3 days, bivalve feeding slowed down. Limited by small sample size and lack of controlled temperature/salinity metrics.Cited by 0
Toxicity and physiological effects of microplastics in marine bivalve molluscs: A systematic review and meta-analysisM Patel, J Watson - Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2022We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed and Scopus, extracting data from 42 experimental studies. Our meta-analysis confirms a statistically significant pooled reduction in bivalve clearance rates under microplastic exposure.Cited by 210