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How to get started with systematic literature searching

Getting started with systematic literature searching

You might be an undergraduate who wants to improve the quality of their searches, a postgraduate deciding on a dissertation topic, or a PhD student conducting a systematic literature review as part of your thesis. Or, you might be a member of staff conducting systematic search as part of your academic work, grant application, or Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme. This guide is your practical companion, offering insights and strategies to navigate the intricacies of systematic searching work. 

Scope of your work

In the initial stages of planning your literature review, it's crucial to define its scope. Consider the following aspects:

  1. Have a clear and well defined research question.
  2. Develop clear inclusion and exclusion criteria to guide your selection of relevant literature for the review.
  3. Determine the length of your literature review.
  4. Establish publication date requirements, if any (e.g., including sources published between 1990 and 2010).
  5. Identify the types of resources to consult, such as trade journals, peer-reviewed journals, books, or websites.
  6. Decide whether your literature review will focus on theoretical issues, topical subjects, or qualitative/quantitative research.
  7. How will you synthesise and present the research you have found?

What makes a systematic search 'systematic'?

There are some important differences between basic searches and more advanced and systematic searching. In systematic searching, the scope of the search, technicality, and methodical and structured approach distinguishes it from traditional searches. What makes systematic searching 'systematic' includes the following key characteristics:

  1. Rigorous Search Process: A systematic search employs a comprehensive and well-defined strategy to locate all relevant information across various sources, minimising bias and ensuring no important sources are overlooked.
  2. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Specific criteria are established for including or excluding sources based on predefined characteristics such as relevance to the research question, publication date, study design, and type of evidence. This reduces subjectivity and ensures consistency in source selection.
  3. Transparent Methodology: The systematic search process is transparent and well-documented, allowing others to replicate it. This includes documenting the search strategy, source selection process, data extraction methods, and quality assessment criteria.
  4. Quality Assessment: Included sources are critically appraised to assess their methodological quality, risk of bias, and relevance to the research question. This ensures that the search accounts for the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence.
  5. Data Extraction and Synthesis of Evidence: The process of synthesising evidence typically involves analysing and summarising the findings of individual research, identifying common themes or patterns across research, and assessing the overall strength of the evidence to draw conclusions or make recommendations.
  6. Impartiality and Minimisation of Bias: A systematic search aims to minimise bias by following a predefined protocol, avoiding selective inclusion of sources, and considering a range of study designs and outcomes.
  7. Reproducibility and Authenticity: The systematic search process is documented in detail, allowing others to replicate the steps and verify the findings. This is crucial for ensuring the reliability and credibility of the search results.

Systematic searches, through their structured methodology, provide more reliable and unbiased summaries of the available evidence, making them a valuable tool for evidence-based decision-making in various fields. They are crucially important because they ensure comprehensive coverage of relevant literature, minimise bias, and provide a solid foundation for evidence-based decision-making in research and practice.

Selected systematic searching texts available in UWS libraries and online

Are you new to systematic and advanced searching?

This guide is designed  for postgraduate, PhD students and career researchers who have experience with systematic or advanced searching  and the content is highly detailed for that purpose. If you're just getting started, it is recommended that you start with the basics and ensure you are confident with the basic principles of searching.