How to Search for Research Literature in Art Therapy¹

• Begin your search by writing a clear research problem or thesis statement and then breaking it down into no more than 3 or 4 sub-problems.
• Make a list of topics and search keywords to go with each sub-problem.
• Go your library online catalog and log on to the major databases (e.g. PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, etc.) and electronic journals (Art Therapy, The Arts in Psychotherapy, etc.).
• Using your list of keywords, begin collecting references from indexes, abstracts, bibliographies and other reference works.
• Organize the list into two columns, placing the name of each study you've found in the left column and, opposite each study, the particular sub-problem it relates to and why in the right hand column.
• Evaluate, rank order in importance and relevance, and gather together all the studies that relate to each sub-problem, using these groupings to write the literature review. Use each sub-problem as the heading for that section of the review.
• Note: If you find little or no research literature for your paper, you may be using keywords that are either too specific or too broadly topical. Consider underlying issues or approaches with studies in closely related areas. Also look for keywords used in the abstracts of articles you have found as they may lead to the most relevant related literature.

American Art Therapy Association - AmericanArtTherapyAssociation.org