systematic literature searching information skills for phd students: 2 jane falconer improving...
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Systematic literature searching
Information skills for PhD students: 2
Jane Falconer
Improving health worldwide www.lshtm.ac.uk
Aims & Objectives
• Edit and refine searches;
• Search across multiple resources;
• Use alternative search options, including citation searching;
• Save searches and keep up to date;
• Find the full text of items not available at LSHTM;
• Keep accurate records of searches;
• Keep within copyright, data protection, research data management and intellectual property restrictions.
This class builds on the information covered in the first class and links advanced techniques into the 6 steps to an effective literature search. It covers how to:
Six steps to an effective literature search:
1.• Scoping your search topic
2.• Choosing the resources to search
3.• Choosing your search terms
4.• Compiling your search strategy and running your search
5.• Finding the full text
6• Managing your information
Are you looking in the right place?
Are you using all of the relevant search terms?
Have you used the Boolean Operators
correctly?
Can you simplify your question to include less
concepts?
I can’t find any information
Are you sure there is any information out there to find?
Are your search terms finding irrelevant results?
Have you added limits?
Can you split your search into smaller ‘chunks’?
Can you narrow your search concepts?
I have found too much information
Some topics have LOTS of information and there is little you can do about it
Have you searched all relevant resources?
Have you included all relevant search terms?
Is your search syntax correct?Can you ask experts in the field for details of additional
information?
I think I might have missed
some information
Remember to leave enough time to complete all of your searching
Search filters
Compiled by InterTASC
• http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/intertasc/
Tested search strategies to find specific study methodologies• Often tested on multiple databases
Used in conjunction with subject search
• Run subject search and search filter then use AND to combine together
Do NOT...
• Search for items authored by specific people
• Search for items published in specific publications
• Search for items published by a known institution or research group
This will introduce bias into your search results and could impact the reliability of your subsequent research.
This is particularly important if you are conducting a systematic review.
Transferring your search – subject headings
MEDLINE Alcohol drinking
EMBASE Alcohol consumption
Global Health Alcohol intake
PsycINFO Alcohol drinking patterns
IBSS No appropriate term
Subject heading terms for alcohol consumption in a selection of relevant databases
Transferring your search - syntax
Boolean operators
Truncation & wildcards
PhrasesProximity searching
Limits on length or
complexity
Relevant article
Citing references
Cited references
Citation searching
Older articles Newer articles
Can be done in 3 databases: - Web of Science - SCOPUS - Biosis Citation Index
Can I use another library?
Senate House
SOAS
Institute of Education
UCL Science Library
Birkbeck
UCL Main Library
UCL Cruciform Library
Kings Fund
BMA
British Library
LSE
Databases from other Libraries
British Library•Databases on a variety of subject areas
LSE•Databases on economics, social policy, psychology, anthropology
Senate House Library•Databases on social sciences
UCL•Databases on a variety of subject areas
Check access requirements before you travel
Open Access
Training available via TSP, date to be confirmed
1. • Scoping your search topic
2. •Choosing the resources to search
3. •Choosing your search terms
4. •Compiling your search strategy and running your search
5. •Finding the full text
6 •Managing your information
Run search in resource
1
Export ALL results to
EndNote
Run search in resource
2
Export ALL results to
EndNote
De-duplic
ate agains
t previo
us results
Run search in resource
3
Export ALL results to
EndNote
De-duplic
ate agains
t previo
us results
Apply inclusion & exclusion
criteria
Deduplicating using EndNote
Keeping notes of your search activities
Keeping up to date
Photo by joseph a http://www.flickr.com/photos/josepha/4005672379/Reproduced under a creative commons licence
Research data management
Photo by Open Data Institutehttps://flic.kr/p/nMui2qReproduced under a creative commons licence
Data management can help you to achieve your research goals
I wish to: find data quickly labelling & organising my files
avoid giving outpersonal information
bykeeping it in a secure area that
only I can access
by
avoid data loss creating backups at regular intervals
by
Ensure my data can be understood by
colleagues
Document the context in which it was created and the meaning of
each variableby
I wish to:
I wish to:
I wish to:
By taking steps to manage your data, you can:
“Data produced during the research activity should be managed appropriately, ensuring that it is stored, organised and documented in
a manner that allows it to be understood and used for the intended purpose.”
LSHTM Research Degrees Handbook
Ensure your data will be suitable
for analysis
Anticipate problems and
reduce likelihood they will occur
Save time and effort
Communicate objectives to
your supervisor
Recognise support needs
Address research
obligations & requirements
Further Information
Guidance & tutorials on:• Data Management Plans
• File formats and software
• Data storage & security
• Data labelling and organisation
• Documentation & metadata
• Data sharing & citation
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/researchdataman/
Getting more help
Photo by Mark Hillary http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/1347412899/Reproduced under a creative commons license
Jane [email protected]
Improving health worldwide www.lshtm.ac.uk