How To Write A Literature Review - What Is Literature Snowballing (And Why It Works)

🎓 GET 1-ON-1 HELP: https://gradcoach.com/?utm_source=YT&utm_campaign=ac6Cr19h9Xk 🧰 FREE RESEARCH TOOLKIT: https://gradcoach.com/toolkit/?utm_source=YT&utm_campaign=ac6Cr19h9Xk 📚 FREE EVENTS & WORKSHOPS: https://gradcoach.com/events/?utm_source=YT&utm_campaign=ac6Cr19h9Xk Struggling to find relevant research papers — even after hours in academic databases? That’s exactly where literature snowballing comes in. In this video, Dr. Matthew Courtney explains what literature snowballing is, why it works, and how to use it to build a strong, relevant body of literature without getting lost in database noise. You’ll learn: - What literature snowballing actually means - How to start with a small, high-quality set of papers - How to “snowball” backward using reference lists - How to snowball forward using citations - How to balance seminal literature with recent research - Common mistakes to avoid when using Google Scholar and paper-network tools Matthew also explains how to recognise when you’ve reached “critical mass” — the point where no new key papers are appearing — so you know when to stop searching and start writing. If database searches feel overwhelming or unproductive, this method will help you find the right papers faster and with more confidence. 00:00 Introduction to Literature Snowballing 00:38 Matthew's Approach to Snowballing 01:27 Ensuring Current Literature 02:29 Using Tools for Snowballing 02:59 Forward Citation Techniques 03:20 Caution with Google Scholar This video is an extract from our Literature Review Q&A session - watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/SStsFmEsZzE