Guide to childlanglab

Collecting papers for a lit review

Purpose

To provide instructions for RAs who are tasked with collecting papers for a lit review.

Procedure

1. Get ready with Paperpile
   • Login to Paperpile via Google Auth (childlanglab@sas.upenn.edu)
   • On the lefthand side, locate the folder you’ve been asked to collect papers for
   • Look inside the folder to see the papers that have already been collected
2. Search for relevant papers via Google Scholar
   • Search for a topic or keyword (e.g. acquisition of variation)
   • Read the abstract of the first relevant-seeming paper you find from first few pages of results. Is the relevant to the research question you’ve been asked to search for?
   • If yes, add to Paperpile
3. Add the paper to Paperpile
   • Download the PDF of the paper (you may need to use the Penn library site for access)
   • Click the green add button in Paperpile (upper left)
   • Select Upload files
   • Choose the file and select the correct folder
   • Check that the information imported correctly and that the pdf attached.
4. Start again at step 2, looking for more papers!
   • Repeat this process as long as you keep finding new things. Stop if you seem to be going in circles.

FAQs

• I got a “duplicate” message when I tried to upload to Paperpile. What does that mean?

  That means the paper has already been added. Check that it exists in the folder you’ve been tasked with. If not, copy (don’t move!) it there.

• Can I just use the Search online button in Paperpile?

  Yes, but usually that method doesn’t attach the PDF. So you’ll have to go and find that separately.