Before you begin your Literature Search you should take some time to consider exactly what it is you are searching for. Taking your time and preparing a search strategy will save you time in the long run as it will ensure that the studies you find will be relevant to your research question.
As well as the rationale and objectives of your research, you will also need to outline details of your search strategy in your protocol/proposal for your dissertation or research paper.
The steps involved are as follows: