Literature, review articles: If you are unsure of where to start, try finding a review article, they summarize the state of research on a scientific topic at the time of publication. While lengthy & not generally including the very latest research, review articles can be a great way to start to get a handle on a topic. Many databases (including PubMed & Web of Science) will allow you to limit your search to include only review articles or literature reviews.
Don't overlook the literature cited at the end of the review - the bibliography contains a wealth of information about the key discoveries & main researchers in the field.
Looking for help on evaluating your sources? Check out some of our tutorials.
Interlibrary loan: If we don't have what you need, try using Northeastern's Interlibrary Loan system (ILLiad) to request books, book chapters, or articles not available at NU. Sometimes this option will be prompted when you click on the Find at Northeastern option.