Systematic searching for environmental evidence using multiple tools and sources

Abstract

Background: This paper provides guidance about how to plan, prepare, conduct, report, amend or update a systematic search. It aims to contribute to a new version of the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE) Guidelines for Systematic Reviews in Environmental Management, and the methods we describe are likely to be broadly applicable across a wider range of topics. In evidence synthesis, searches are expected to be repeatable, fit for purpose, with minimum biases, and to collate a maximum number of relevant articles. Failing to include relevant information in an evidence synthesis may lead to inaccurate or skewed conclusions and/or changes in conclusions as soon as the omitted information is added. Method:The paper takes into account similar documents produced by the Cochrane Collaboration and the Campbell Collaboration, including necessary adjustments for environmental policy and management, and the current version of the CEE Guidelines (version 4.2, 2013). Where possible this guidance is based on evidence from research, and in its absence on expert opinion and experience. Results:Here we aim to provide guidance on the optimal search structure as the basis on which any evidence synthesis should be built. Conclusion:It is aimed at all those who intend to conduct systematic evidence synthesis, including reviews and Ph.D. thesis.

Which academic search systems are suitable for systematic reviews or meta‐analyses? Evaluating retrieval qualities of Google Scholar, PubMed, and 26 other resources

“…Searching search systems with the greatest effectiveness and efficiency is a skill that is necessary yet generally undervalued in education and research practice. Reviewers should always consult information specialists or librarians and enlist their support in designing systematic review search strategies . Only if reviewers are aware of a search system's functionalities, they can take advantage of all methods and functionalities and design good search strategies.…”

“…Rigorous evidence syntheses, such as systematic reviews, have specific requirements for literature searches . These requirements are stipulated in conduct guidance issued by renowned institutions dedicated to warrant and elevate the quality of evidence synthesis in academia.…”

What are the effective solutions to control the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in the environment? A systematic review protocol

“…The number of articles of the test list that will be retrieved by the search will be reported in the review report [36].…”

Eligibility screening in evidence synthesis of environmental management topics

“…To ensure that key evidence is not missed, searches are usually designed to have high sensitivity, that is, to identify as many relevant articles (or other items of evidence) as possible. However, highly sensitive searches tend to have low specificity, meaning poor discrimination of information that is truly irrelevant (note that sensitivity is sometimes called recall or exhaustivity and specificity is sometimes called precision) [7]. Consequently, sensitive searches typically return large numbers of irrelevant articles (e.g.…”

“…Although these approaches to evidence synthesis have different objectives, they both need to identify all information relevant to the questions they are addressing, so as to reduce the risk of selective inclusion or exclusion of evidence [6]. In both approaches an extensive search for evidence should therefore have been carried out using as wide a range of information sources as possible [7]. To ensure that key evidence is not missed, searches are usually designed to have high sensitivity, that is, to identify as many relevant articles (or other items of evidence) as possible.…”