1. Start with a background resource, such as an encyclopedia or dictionary, to find names of influential researchers and their theories.
2. Write down, or create a mind map of, all the relevant keywords you come across in your background search.
3. Use the information (keywords, names, and theories) from your background research to find scholarly sources in relevant academic databases.

*For additional information on how to develop your research topic, please see the Instructional Videos page of this guide.

What is citation chaining?

Citation chaining means searching backwards and forwards in time for materials that are cited by and also that cite an article or resource you already have. One resource links you to another, which links you to another, and so on to create a chain of relevant literature.

~ Walden University

Advantages of citation chaining

• Efficient for finding additional sources
• High likelihood of finding sources on a similar topic
• Often find unexpected, but valuable, sources
• Useful for research papers or assignments where you're comparing sources

Citation chaining: Part 1

Citation chaining: Part 2

Other citation chaining videos

Relevant academic databases

*For additional information on how to use the PsycInfo database, please see the Instructional Videos page of this guide.

Citation indexes (for citation chaining)