This Responsible Literature Searching guide provides guidance and best practices on the literature search process. Users reviewing this guide will be able to:
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A literature search is an iterative and strategic process used to identify existing research on a topic. In medical and health sciences, literature searches typically involve databases such as PubMed, but they may also extend to other evidence based resources like clinical trial registries to ensure comprehensiveness.
While literature searches are often associated with literature reviews - since reviewing the literature first requires finding it - they serve a variety of purposes, including:
A responsible literature search goes beyond simply retrieving articles. It requires:
Developing a systematic and well-defined search plan that aligns with the research goal.
Constructing comprehensive, reproducible search strategies across multiple databases.
Critically appraising the quality, relevance, and credibility of the information found.
Maintaining transparency by documenting search results and methods, including databases searched, keywords used, and any filters applied.
The Medical Library provides literature search and consultation services to support SIUSOM students, staff, faculty, and residents’ educational and research needs. Our adaptive service strives to support a variety of research needs from focused clinical searching in support of direct patient care to developing comprehensive search strategies for evidence synthesis projects.
Determining the "best" resources to search depends on several factors. Consider the type of question you are asking, the subject area, and the purpose of your search. For example, a search for background information may only require one or two key resources, while a search for a systematic review demands a more comprehensive and rigorous approach. Time constraints and availability of databases or tools also play a role in shaping your strategy.
All databases provide unique coverage of literature. Below are a few suggested databases based on subject matter to help with deciding where to start searching.
General Medical / Biomedical |
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Education |
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Psychology / Psychiatry |
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Humanities / Medical Humanities |
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Nursing / Allied Health |
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