In conducting a complex search, the researcher’s main goal is to: a.

In conducting a complex search, the researcher’s main goal is to:

a. create as long a list of possible sources as possible.
b. establish a baseline of how many studies are available on the topic.
c. find out whether the topic is too difficult for study.
d. focus the literature review.

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: D
Combining the concepts used in the study into one search will reveal sources that also used a similar combination of concepts, instead of all studies that used as few as one of them.
The goal of the researcher would not be to obtain a lengthy list, but a useful one.
The researcher would not be establishing a baseline, but creating a relevant literature review.
A literature review may ultimately lead the researcher to this conclusion, but that is not the goal of the search. The correct answer is “focus the literature review.” A review of literature is introduced with a description of the topic of interest and how the review is focused.