This interactive online course will cover the key principles of searching for published and unpublished evidence in a systematic, transparent way.
We will look at turning a research idea into a viable, structured search question; scoping the literature; choosing sources; developing effective strategies and documenting your searches so they can be reproduced.
The course will draw on ScHARR’s decades of experience at the forefront of evidence synthesis, in addition to highlighting the latest available search tools and emerging techniques from the relevant methodological literature.
The programme will be as follows:
Preliminary session: an exclusive pre-recorded video lecture by Professor Andrew Booth, lead author of Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review, 3rd edition (Sage, 2021).
Session 1 (28th June) will look at:
- the role of the literature search in the evidence review process;
- scoping the literature and choosing sources
- matching your search approach to the a particular review method
- turning a research question into a search strategy
PLEASE NOTE: Delegates will be given a search task to complete in their own time and submit within 7 days (please allow approximately 1 hour for this)
Session 2 (12th July) will look at:
- Common pitfalls of searching (including feedback on search task)
- Reporting searches
- Beyond the “big bang” search - complementary and iterative methods, and when to use them
- Emerging techniques
- Knowing when to stop
Who will benefit from the course?:
Anyone with an interest in conducting or supporting systematic reviews or similar evidence synthesis projects, especially:
- Postgraduate students
- Early career researchers
- Librarians and Information Specialists
We will draw on examples not just from health but also from evidence synthesis in the social sciences and public policy.
For more information visit the course webpage
Course faculty:
ScHARR Information Science Research
