Which activity helps in identifying new scholarly references during a literature search?

Identifying new scholarly references during a literature search is crucial for ensuring a comprehensive understanding of a subject. Documenting relevant citations is an effective activity because it involves systematically recording the resources that are pertinent to the research question. This process allows researchers to keep track of important information, making it easy to revisit these sources later. Additionally, it facilitates the identification of trends, gaps in the literature, and helps in building a solid foundational knowledge base for further exploration.

The other activities, such as reading articles without taking notes or only reviewing the introduction of studies, hinder the identification of new scholarly references. Reading without documentation limits the ability to recall essential details and connections among sources, while focusing solely on introductions can lead to missing valuable insights and data presented in the methods, results, and discussion sections of research articles. Neglecting to cite sources also impedes the literature search process, as it eliminates the ability to track where information is pulled from, thus reducing the effectiveness of the research effort. Overall, careful documentation of relevant citations is fundamental for thorough and organized literature searches.