Searching
Search logs and reporting
Documenting your search process
When conducting systematic reviews, it is important to document the search process you used. It can be helpful to keep a search diary or log. Documenting your process will allow others to analyze the comprehensiveness of your search. This information will also be required if you intend to publish your review, either as part of a thesis or as a peer-reviewed journal article.
Be sure to keep track of the following:
- Database you searched, along with the platform provider (e.g. PsycINFO on Ebsco vs PsycINFO on APA PsycNet; ERIC on Ebsco vs ERIC on Proquest, etc.);
- The date each search was conducted;
- Keywords and subject headings (include information such as if terms were truncated, exploded, etc.);
- Search history (include combination of terms you used);
- Number of results retrieved from each search and combination;
- Total number of records retrieved;
- Identify any duplicate records;
- Numbers pre-screening and post-screening;
- Identify the source (journal name, conference proceedings, etc.) and years for all hand-searched sources.
Reporting guidelines
When conducting a systematic review, you will need to keep track of many details related to the way you have designed and implemented your search strategy (see previous section on “documenting your search process”). For more detailed explanations of what search-related items you should be reporting and how to report them, refer to the reporting guidelines below:
- PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses): The minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses (consult the flow diagram and checklist).
- MOOSE (Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology): Reporting guidelines for meta-analyses of observational studies.
- CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) Statement: An evidence-based, minimum set of recommendations for reporting randomized trials.
- EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research): A database of reporting guidelines for different study types and other resources relevant to research reporting.
