Engineering
Approach #1: Citation Searching (example below is the from the IEEE database)
Approach #2: Set up Alerts (example below is from the Compendex database)
Major engineering databases will have the option to save searches and set up alerts. Once you have crafted a search with any limits/filters that retrieve papers you want, look for "Create Alert", and when new papers are published you will receive an email.
Approach #3: Use Discovery Maps (example below is from the Web of Science database)
Web of Science provides maps as a visual way to discover papers:
Setting up a Search
TOPIC: "Energy harvesting for self-powered devices"
STEP 1: Break this topic into concepts and think about synonyms for your key words
STEP 2: Concept A
- Energy harvesting
- Tip #1: ask yourself: what kind of energy harvesting?
- "energy harvest*" OR triboelectric* OR piezoelectric*
- Tip #2 use quotation marks around multi-word phrases
- Tip #3 use truncation (*) to search for suffix variances
STEP 3: Concept B on the second line of an advanced search form
- "AND"
- "self power*" OR "implant* OR "body-area network*"
STEP 4: Use the drop down menu on each line to restrict search terms to "all fields" or more specific such as "abstract"