Title: Mastering Literature Reviews: Crafting an Effective Search Strategy

Crafting a comprehensive literature review is a vital aspect of academic research, serving as the
foundation upon which scholars build their arguments and contribute to their respective fields.
However, the process of conducting a literature review can often be daunting, requiring not only
extensive research but also a strategic approach to gathering relevant sources. One crucial component
of this process is developing an effective search strategy.

A well-crafted search strategy lays the groundwork for identifying pertinent literature that addresses
the research question or topic at hand. It involves carefully selecting keywords, utilizing appropriate
search databases, and employing various search techniques to retrieve relevant scholarly articles,
books, and other sources. While this may sound straightforward, in reality, it requires a considerable
amount of time, effort, and expertise to execute effectively.

One of the primary challenges scholars face when devising a search strategy is the vast amount of
information available across numerous academic disciplines. Navigating through this sea of literature
to pinpoint the most relevant sources can be overwhelming, especially for those who are new to the
process. Additionally, the ever-expanding landscape of academic research further complicates
matters, making it essential for researchers to stay updated on the latest publications and
developments in their field.

Moreover, refining search queries to yield precise results requires a nuanced understanding of
database functionalities and search operators. Many researchers struggle to strike the right balance
between specificity and inclusivity in their search terms, leading to either an overwhelming number
of irrelevant results or a limited pool of relevant literature.

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For this method, we recommend starting with the most important and specific elements. A search
strategy is an organized combination of keywords, phrases, subject headings, and limiters used to
search a database. Subject headings (index terms) Identify appropriate subject headings (index
terms). As an example, you work in an aged care facility and are interested in whether cranberry juice
might help reduce the common occurrence of urinary tract infections. What is new? This method
encourages searchers to start their search development process using empty syntax first and later
adding the thesaurus terms and free-text synonyms. We feel this helps the searcher to focus on the
search terms, instead of on the structure of the search query. Several factors can complicate the
identification of thesaurus terms. Sometimes, one thesaurus term is found that exactly describes a
specific element. The developed search strategies can be copied and pasted into the desired databases
from the log document. You should also include any other literature sources you used. Phrase
searching decreases the number of results you get. A well-structured literature search is the most
effective and efficient way to locate sound evidence on the Your search strategy can be used in all
databases. Searching for free-text terms NOT thesaurus terms will help identify missed thesaurus
terms. If this is done repeatedly for each element, leaving the rest of the query unchanged, this
method will help add numerous relevant terms to the query. This method often adds valuable extra
terms to our search strategy and, therefore, extra, relevant references to our search results. In
rectangle evaluate results, rethink keywords and create alerts. Feb 2016 A basic search strategy can
help you get used to each database s features and how they are expressed in a search query
Following the 10. Sitemap case study creative writing presentation problem solving rewiew prompts
websites tips. It should be used with caution as you may inadvertently exclude relevant references.
We recommend developing a personal workflow that always starts with one specific database and
interface. 6. Document the search process in a text document We advise designing and creating the
complete search strategies in a log document, instead of directly in the database itself, to register the
steps taken and to make searches accountable and reproducible. It will salvage your time every bit
you won't need to freeze on strategies and methods. Explore controversial points of view. Connect.
Find a place of your research between existing studies. In this article, we describe the method
developed at Erasmus University Medical Center (MC) and demonstrate its use through an example
search. Learn to improve your literature search strategy to get the best possible results when
searching for information in databases The postgraduate skills programme. It indicates possible gaps
and concludes the body of literature. And then, you select and study the topic-related literature to
confirm or deny the stated question. Treat each component as a separate concept (there are usually
between 2-4 concepts). Don't forget nearly these five C'due south to make things easier in writing a
literature review: Cite. In MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), and CINAHL (EBSCOhost), the
thesaurus terms must be adapted manually, as each database has its own custom thesaurus. Sure, it's
impossible to detect a topic that hasn't been discussed or cited. A well-structured literature search is
the most effective and efficient way to locate sound evidence on the Your search strategy can be
used in all databases. Following the method outlined below simplifies the process: Create single-line
queries in a text document (not combining multiple record sets), which allows immediate checking
of the relevance of retrieved references and efficient optimization. The schema that is followed for
the translation between databases is shown in Figure 2.
Feb 2016 A basic search strategy can help you get used to each database s features and how they are
expressed in a search query Following the 10. Theoretical literature review implies gathering theories.
At this step, you lot should start writing your review. The number of literature is equivalent to the
number of paragraphs. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta analyses. Jan 2017
Literature Searching Strategies: Search strategy In any search, planning a strategy at the beginning
will save you time and you can always. Literature Review Outline We've already discussed the
importance of a literature review outline. Another limitation is the customization of the macros to a
specific institution’s resources. It gives a general summary of information relevant to a certain
research problem or question. For each concept list the key words derived from your research
question, as well as any other relevant terms or synonyms that you have found in your preliminary
searches. These are 3: introduction, main body, and the decision. The PICO framework would look
like this: Now that the issue has been broken up to its elements, it is easier to turn it into an
answerable research question: “Does cranberry juice help reduce urinary tract infections in people
living in aged care facilities?” Other frameworks may be helpful, depending on your question and
your field of interest. If the interface allows relevance ranking, use that in the evaluation. Each of
these two databases has its own thesaurus with its own unique definitions and structure. For this
reason, I will speak to the literature review, revealing tips and tricks relating to it, in three different
posts. The difference in number of terms is even higher considering that many synonyms in MeSH
are permuted terms (i.e., inversions of phrases using commas). Define your search Decide where to
search What is a search strategy Advanced search tips. As an example, you work in an aged care
facility and are interested in whether cranberry juice might help reduce the common occurrence of
urinary tract infections. Sometimes you are required to explain your literature search strategy for the
literature review Even when you are not officially required to do so, including the. Check the
database help section if you are not sure which searching commands to use. Your search strategy will
include: keywords boolean operators variations of search terms (synonyms, suffixes) subject
headings Your search strategy may include: truncation (where applicable) phrases (where applicable)
Researching for your literature review: Develop a search strategy Start developing a search strategy
by identifying the key words and concepts within your research question. Developing your health
literature search strategy at Leeds University Library. Sometimes you are required to explain your
literature search strategy for the literature review Even when you are not officially required to do so,
including the. The search can be more focused by combining the abbreviation with an important
word that is relevant to its meaning or by using the Boolean “NOT” to exclude frequently observed,
clearly irrelevant results. Subject headings (index terms) Identify appropriate subject headings (index
terms). In the end, make a compelling literature review conclusion. For example, searching for “self-
esteem NOT eating disorders” finds articles that mention self-esteem but removes any articles that
mention eating disorders. Then, continue with more general and important elements until the number
of results is acceptable for screening. TemplateLab templatelab.com ?? How To Do A Review Article.
They replace zero, one or more characters in the middle of a word. You will need to test the strategy
along the way to ensure that you are finding relevant articles. Several factors can complicate the
identification of thesaurus terms. Sometimes, one thesaurus term is found that exactly describes a
specific element. The papers in your 'gold set' can then be used to help you identify relevant search
terms Look up your 'sample set' articles in a database that you will use for your literature review.
Sitemap case study creative writing presentation problem solving rewiew prompts websites tips. If
articles (hypothetically or known) exist that can answer the question but lack a certain element in
their titles, abstracts, or keywords, that element is unimportant to the question. At Erasmus MC, the
researchers sit next to the information specialist during most of the search strategy design process.
Most databases simply follow the structure set by the Embase.com search strategy. The translation
from Emtree terms to MeSH terms for MEDLINE in Ovid often identifies new terms that need to be
added to the Embase.com search strategy before the translation to other databases. A search strategy
is an organized combination of keywords, phrases, subject headings, and limiters used to search a
database. This can be the evidence you need to prove a gap in the literature, and confirms the
importance of your research question. Search Strategy The Search Strategy Builder is a tool designed
to teach you how to create a search string using Boolean logic. For each concept list the key words
derived from your research question, as well as any other relevant terms or synonyms that you have
found in your preliminary searches. Can you change these without losing any relevant articles from
your results. Some elements are less important than others or may unnecessarily complicate or
restrict a search strategy. However, to perform a sensitive search, all relevant variations of the
narrower terms must be searched as free-text keywords in the title or abstract, in addition to relying
on the exploded thesaurus term. As an example, you work in an aged care facility and are interested
in whether cranberry juice might help reduce the common occurrence of urinary tract infections. For
advice on the scope of the project, refinement of the key questions, and preparation of this technical
review, we consulted technical experts in the following. If the interface allows relevance ranking, use
that in the evaluation. Another step yous should have is to argue your choice. We advise restricting
the initial terms to the most important and most relevant terms. Later in the process, more general
terms can be added in the optimization process, in which the effect on the number of hits, and thus
the desirability of adding these terms, can be evaluated more easily. This depends on your reason for
searching the literature The search strategies that you applied when searching different sources (eg
Medline, Web of. You can also try some PICO examples in the National Library of Medicine's
PubMed training site: Using PICO to frame clinical questions. A well-structured literature search is
the most effective and efficient way to locate sound evidence on the Your search strategy can be
used in all databases. Campbell offers editorial and methodological support to review authors
throughout the process of producing a systematic review. Both need to be searched as free-text
terms in the title and abstract. Here it is: Narrative Essay: Business Literature Review Example Pdf
molotorvac.blogspot.com narrative College Essay: Essay About Literature Example
eketogenit.blogspot.com literary samples Literature Review For Apa Format themcfarlanegroup.com
apa museumlegs essay template findings qualitative summarizing papers vlsi summarize. When you
reach the point of having written all your paragraphs, you can revisit the whole section and make the
words tie in together more. When is the best option to write an integrative literature review. Search
strategy - Literature Searching Strategies -? Likewise, sometimes certain diseases are only found in
certain populations.
Advantages of subject searching: Helps locate articles that use synonyms, variant spellings, plurals
Search terms don’t have to appear in the title or abstract Note: Subject headings are often unique to
a particular database, so you will need to look for appropriate subject headings in each database you
intend to use. If at that place are no specific rules, make certain it is no more 30% of the whole
inquiry paper. In our instance, 20% is preparing a literature review. It's better to apply tables or
diagrams to make your content visual. Contrast. Use listings to categorize particular approaches,
themes, and and so on. Critique. Disquisitional thinking is a must in any scientific enquiry. If articles
(hypothetically or known) exist that can answer the question but lack a certain element in their titles,
abstracts, or keywords, that element is unimportant to the question. If your literature review is non a
role of the thesis and goes equally a stand-alone paper — exist curtailed but explore the research area
in-depth. Research Guides: Literature Reviews: Develop Search Strategies Developing a search
strategy is a balance between needing a very precise search that yields fewer highly relevant results
or a comprehensive search (high retrieval) with lower precision. For our method, an interface that
allows searching with proximity operators is desirable, and full functionality of the thesaurus,
including explosion of narrower terms, is crucial. If you first with a well-defined structure, it's nearly
100% you'll reach exceptional results. Example: “inclusive education” In some databases, words may
be searched separately if the quote marks are not used. Treat each component as a separate concept
(there are usually between 2-4 concepts). Literature Review: Step-by-Step Strategy Afterward
choosing a blazon, information technology'south fourth dimension for step-past-footstep literature
review guidelines. Learn to improve your literature search strategy to get the best possible results
when searching for information in databases The postgraduate skills programme. In MEDLINE
(Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), and CINAHL (EBSCOhost), the thesaurus terms must be adapted
manually, as each database has its own custom thesaurus. Distillersr needs subscription eppi reviewer
subscription free trial or ahrqs srdr tool free which is web based and has a training environment
tutorials and example templates of systematic review data extraction forms. The basic goal of the
literature review is summarizing and justifying the research. A systematic review review protocol
organization city country. Adding such an overlapping element could lead to missing relevant
references. Define your search Decide where to search What is a search strategy Advanced search
tips. Search strategy - Literature Searching Strategies -? Literature Review Outline We've already
discussed the importance of a literature review outline. Information technology identifies, evaluates,
and appraises the studied topic. It deserves capitals, because it is truly one of the beasts of academic
writing. Resources for students and trainees some key resources are highlighted in the next few
pages researchers around the world have found these useful its worth a look and it might save you a
lot of time. Following the method outlined below simplifies the process: Create single-line queries in
a text document (not combining multiple record sets), which allows immediate checking of the
relevance of retrieved references and efficient optimization. Therefore, searching Embase will be, by
definition, more complete than searching MEDLINE only. Is it trying to say that what you are
studying is niche or has been studied in the past but not in the same way. At Erasmus MC, the
researchers sit next to the information specialist during most of the search strategy design process. Its
purpose is to identify and gather the meridian insights, gaps, and answers to research questions. The
developed search strategies can be copied and pasted into the desired databases from the log
document. One of the most frequently occurring errors is missing the Boolean operator “OR.” When
no “OR” is added between two search terms, many interfaces automatically add an “AND,” which
unintentionally reduces the number of results and likely misses relevant references.
Field codes in five most used interfaces for biomedical literature searching Searching for
abbreviations can identify extra, relevant references and retrieve more irrelevant ones. The method is
not a guarantee for speed, since speed depends on many factors, including experience. In contrast,
especially in more general elements, multiple thesaurus terms can be found to describe one element.
The thesaurus of the database is searched for matching index terms for each key concept. This way,
the searcher is in control of the whole process. For the question “does prolonged breastfeeding
improve intelligence outcomes in children?,” searching specifically for the element of duration will
introduce bias, as articles that find a positive effect of prolonged breastfeeding will be much more
likely to mention time factors in their titles or abstracts. Several methods describe standards for
systematic search strategies, but a consistent approach for creating an exhaustive search strategy has
not yet been fully described in enough detail to be fully replicable. Literature review outlooks the
existing sources on a given topic. This depends on your reason for searching the literature The search
strategies that you applied when searching different sources (eg Medline, Web of. Our method,
instead, uses single-line searches, which is critical to its success. Different outcomes are desired for
different types of research questions. A methodology for creating exhaustive search strategies has
been created that describes all steps of the search process, starting with a question and resulting in
thorough search strategies in multiple databases. Adjacency searching Use adjacency operators to
search by phrase or with two or more words in relation to one another. Literature Review Examples
To consolidate the above, let's await through some examples. More experienced searchers can
consider the basic steps to be existing knowledge that will already be part of their normal workflow,
although step 4 probably differs from general practice. Methods for Literature Search - Strategies To
Support? A well-structured literature search is the most effective and efficient way to locate sound
evidence on the Your search strategy can be used in all databases. Its purpose is to identify and
gather the meridian insights, gaps, and answers to research questions. A search that is too specific or
too sensitive for the intended goal can be adapted to become more sensitive or specific. For
example: How do students view inclusive educational practices in schools. The main Boolean
operators are: OR is used to find articles that mention either of the topics you search for. For a more
visual illustration of its difference, we fabricated a table: To sum up: an annotated bibliography is
more referral. Now, information technology's time to understand how to create it. Schema for
determining the optimal order of elements Bias in elements The choice of elements in a search
strategy can introduce bias through use of overly specific terminology or terms often associated with
positive outcomes. For example, searching for “self-esteem NOT eating disorders” finds articles that
mention self-esteem but removes any articles that mention eating disorders. On the opposite, you
won't reach the literature review purpose without examining all the sources cited. A good starting
point for a search is hypothesizing what the research that can answer the question would look like.
It's also a good idea to review your search strategy with your co-authors. When is the best option to
write an integrative literature review. Single-line search strategies also allow easy translation to other
syntaxes using find-and-replace technology to update field codes and other syntax elements or using
macros (step 13).
Sometimes clues can be found in the number of results, either when the number of results is much
higher or lower than expected or when many retrieved references are not relevant. Brainstorm
keywords related to your topic, then enter your search statement here. Jan 2017 Literature Searching
Strategies: Search strategy In any search, planning a strategy at the beginning will save you time and
you can always. A well-structured literature search is the most effective and efficient way to locate
sound evidence on the Your search strategy can be used in all databases. Also problematic is that
more parentheses are needed, making it more difficult for the searcher and others to assess the logic
of the search strategy. In this part, you lot should outline the following characteristics: Selected topic
Inquiry question Related research question trends and prospects Research methods Expected inquiry
results Trunk. Learn to improve your literature search strategy to get the best possible results when
searching for information in databases The postgraduate skills programme. The optimization method
in which new terms are found in the already retrieved articles is used in some other institutes as well
but has to our knowledge not been described in the literature. Simply insert your title and abstract in
any of the journal finder tools listed under the publishing your systematic review tab. Use predefined
proximity structures including parentheses, such as (() ADJ3 ()) in Ovid, that can be reused in the
query when necessary. The purpose is to become the lay of the land in a given inquiry area. Here it
is: Narrative Essay: Business Literature Review Example Pdf molotorvac.blogspot.com narrative
College Essay: Essay About Literature Example eketogenit.blogspot.com literary samples Literature
Review For Apa Format themcfarlanegroup.com apa museumlegs essay template findings qualitative
summarizing papers vlsi summarize. CONCLUSIONS With the described method, searchers can gain
confidence in their search strategies by finding many relevant words and creating exhaustive search
strategies quickly. Adjacency searching Use adjacency operators to search by phrase or with two or
more words in relation to one another. Can you change these without losing any relevant articles
from your results. We highly appreciate the work that was done by our former colleague Louis
Volkers, who in his twenty years as an information specialist in Erasmus MC laid the basis for our
method. On top of that, explore some other working tips to make your literature review as
informative equally possible. Now you lot understand the core milestones regarding the introduction
to the literature review. Methods for Literature Search - Strategies To Support? As an example, you
work in an aged care facility and are interested in whether cranberry juice might help reduce the
common occurrence of urinary tract infections. In our instance, 20% is preparing a literature review.
Several methods describe standards for systematic search strategies, but a consistent approach for
creating an exhaustive search strategy has not yet been fully described in enough detail to be fully
replicable. How is a systematic literature review different from “searching the literature”. Meta-
analysis implies the deductive enquiry approach used. While writing, attempt to uncover insights, be
selective and disquisitional-thinking, and don't forget to keep your vocalisation. Bottom right corner
of circle search resources and in rectangle consider using boolean searchingproximity searching and
truncated searching techniques. Treat each component as a separate concept (there are usually
between 2-4 concepts). Such contextual attributes equally goal, construction, and components differ
a lot. You will need to adjust your strategy for each database your search. Remember: earlier writing
a literature review, specify its type.
Sometimes you are required to explain your literature search strategy for the literature review Even
when you are not officially required to do so, including the. Sometimes you are required to explain
your literature search strategy for the literature review Even when you are not officially required to
do so, including the. Each of these two databases has its own thesaurus with its own unique
definitions and structure. Distillersr needs subscription eppi reviewer subscription free trial or ahrqs
srdr tool free which is web based and has a training environment tutorials and example templates of
systematic review data extraction forms. The basic goal of the literature review is summarizing and
justifying the research. These are selected from a controlled list and describe what the article is
about. We have 35 Images about Narrative Essay: Business literature review example pdf like
Literature review format, Sample of Research Literature Review and also. Brainstorm keywords
related to your topic, then enter your search statement here. Feb 2016 A basic search strategy can
help you get used to each database s features and how they are expressed in a search query
Following the 10. It is easier to find MeSH terms after all relevant Emtree terms have been
identified than to start with MeSH and translate to Emtree. However, to perform a sensitive search,
all relevant variations of the narrower terms must be searched as free-text keywords in the title or
abstract, in addition to relying on the exploded thesaurus term. Feb 2016 A basic search strategy can
help you get used to each database s features and how they are expressed in a search query
Following the 10. This record could be a document, table or spreadsheet with: The names of the
sources you search and which provider you accessed them through - eg Medline (Ovid), Web of
Science (Thomson Reuters). The easiest solution for combining these terms for a sensitive search is
to use such a thesaurus term in all elements where it is relevant. When you reach the point of having
written all your paragraphs, you can revisit the whole section and make the words tie in together
more. The thesaurus of the database is searched for matching index terms for each key concept.
Track and save your search Class Recording: Writing an Effective Narrative Review A search
strategy includes a combination of keywords, subject headings, and limiters (language, date,
publication type, etc.) A search strategy should be planned out and practiced before executing the
final search in a database. Systematic review protocol support template this template is primarily
intended to help you plan your review in a systematic way. The elements to use in a search strategy
can be found in the plot of elements in Figure 1, by following the top row from left to right. Search
planner Literature search cycle Diagram text description This diagram illustrates the literature search
cycle. Data will be collected regarding the reasons for exclusion. Example: “inclusive education” In
some databases, words may be searched separately if the quote marks are not used. Make clear points
of inference and explain the relationships between the studied literature. Determining how many
results are acceptable for screening is often a matter of negotiation with the SR team. 5. Choose an
appropriate database and interface to start with Important factors for choosing databases to use are
the coverage and the presence of a thesaurus. At Erasmus MC, macros based on the find-and-replace
method in Microsoft Word have been developed for easy and fast translation between the most used
databases for biomedical and health sciences questions. The asterisk applied to the root of a word
captures other endings to that root word making it useful for retrieving singular, plural and other
variations of a keyword. Adjacency searching Use adjacency operators to search by phrase or with
two or more words in relation to one another. This is particularly important if you are undertaking a
systematic review or an in-depth piece of work Subject headings may vary between databases, so
you need to investigate each database separately to find the subject headings they use. Creating
search strategies for systematic reviews, finding the best balance between sensitivity and specificity,
and translating search strategies between databases is challenging. A methodology for creating
exhaustive search strategies has been created that describes all steps of the search process, starting
with a question and resulting in thorough search strategies in multiple databases. Sometimes you are
required to explain your literature search strategy for the literature review Even when you are not
officially required to do so, including the.