What's in This Guide
Definitions, featured resources and related guides.
A step-by-step guide and links to key search resources.
A step-by-step guide and links to key search resources.
An extensive list of bibliographic databases, research databases, websites and other resources.
Research Tools
National Transportation Library
Hidden Treasures: Finding the Transportation Information You Need
Oregon DOT
Recommended Resources in Transportation
ETKN
Start Your Research
Northwestern University
Steps for Conducting a Literature Review
University of West Florida Libraries
Copyright for Research
Oregon DOT
Literature searches and literature reviews are key components of research projects sponsored by state departments of transportation. A literature search seeks to confirm what is known about a particular topic, and a literature review uses the literature search to help to clarify the scope of the research project. This resource guide addresses:
The guide is adapted from Transportation Research E-Circular 194: Literature Searches and Literature Reviews for Transportation Research Projects (2015). For a more detailed discussion, review the literature search and literature review sections of the e-circular.
Practical Tips
Literature search — a series of searches across multiple resources that produces a list of citations which are relevant to a topic or subject matter. The results are compiled and structured to help a researcher understand the scope, breadth and relevance of the literature on a topic.
► Example: Micro-Rail Exploration Study, California Department of Transportation, March 2021.
Literature review — a narrative that is based on the findings of a literature search. The narrative is organized by topic, drawing connections among citations and presenting cited works according to their importance and relevance.
► Example: Snow Removal at Extreme Temperatures, Clear Roads Pooled Fund, Minnesota Department of Transportation, March 2013.
The Transportation Research and Connectivity pooled fund study, TPF-5(442), is a consortium of state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other partners that supports the coordinated development of transportation libraries as well as research organizations without dedicated libraries. Study focus areas include communication and networking, digitization, research report accessibility, and developing online resource guides and a toolkit for non-librarians.
This Resource Guide was prepared by CTC & Associates LLC for the Transportation Research and Connectivity pooled fund study, TPF-5(442), under the guidance of the following members of the study's technical advisory committee:
This guide is a living document that is intended to be revised and updated to incorporate new resources. To suggest a resource for inclusion, please contact one of the committee members listed above.
Publication date: September 2021.