Choosing Appropriate Databases for Systematic Reviews
A well-conducted systematic review requires a thorough search strategy that ensures all relevant studies are included. Choosing appropriate databases is fundamental to capturing a comprehensive dataset for review, making it crucial to understand which databases are best suited to different research areas and how to develop a database selection strategy.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the significance of selecting appropriate databases for systematic reviews
- Identify key databases suitable for various research disciplines
- Develop a strategy for comprehensive database selection to ensure thorough coverage
Introduction
Database selection is pivotal in systematic review planning, as it ensures a broad and thorough capture of relevant literature. Each database offers unique strengths, covering various fields, publication types, and study designs. Therefore, the choice of databases directly impacts the quality and completeness of the systematic review.
A well-chosen combination of databases:
- Minimizes the risk of missing key studies
- Ensures inclusion of both published and gray literature
- Facilitates a more robust, comprehensive analysis
Key Databases by Field
1. Medical and Life Sciences
- PubMed: Essential for biomedical literature, especially useful for clinical studies, reviews, and case reports.
- EMBASE: Contains a broader European focus and extensive coverage of drug and pharmacological research.
- Cochrane Library: Focuses on high-quality systematic reviews and clinical trials, making it ideal for evidence-based medicine.
- CINAHL: Targets nursing and allied health literature, which can supplement medical and clinical research.
2. Psychology and Psychiatry
- PsycINFO: Covers psychological literature, including clinical, cognitive, and social psychology.
- PsycARTICLES: Provides access to full-text articles in psychology, valuable for research on mental health and behavioral studies.
3. Social Sciences
- Web of Science: Covers various disciplines, offering citation tracking, which is useful for understanding research impact.
- Scopus: Known for extensive interdisciplinary coverage, it's especially useful for social and behavioral sciences.
- Sociological Abstracts: Specifically caters to sociology-related studies and social behavior topics.
4. Education
5. Engineering and Technology
- IEEE Xplore: Essential for engineering, computer science, and electronic research. Known for its conference proceedings and standards.
- Compendex: Covers applied engineering, materials science, and related fields, including conference proceedings.
6. Multidisciplinary Databases
- ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global: A key source for gray literature, particularly for thesis and dissertation research.
- Google Scholar: Can be used to supplement searches across a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, though it lacks advanced search filters and quality controls.
Considerations for Database Selection
Selecting the right databases involves evaluating multiple factors:
- Relevance to Your Research Question: Ensure the database covers your field adequately. Specialized databases (e.g., PubMed for biomedical research) often contain more targeted resources.
- Coverage of Gray Literature: Some studies, especially those not published in traditional journals, are found in repositories, theses, or conference proceedings. Including sources like ProQuest Dissertations or OpenGrey ensures broader coverage.
- Time Span of the Database: Confirm whether the database provides access to historical data if the review spans older literature or if it has current data to stay up-to-date.
- Accessibility and Cost: Check if the database is freely accessible or requires a subscription. Institutional access may open up more options; however, some databases have high fees, which may impact feasibility.
- Language of Publication: If your review includes studies from non-English speaking regions, ensure the database includes multi-language support or regional studies.
Developing a Database Selection Strategy
- Define Your Research Scope: Start by refining your review question and identifying key concepts. Use this to determine which fields are relevant.
- Map Databases to Disciplines: Identify primary and supplementary databases that are most likely to contain relevant literature for each discipline. This often includes selecting at least two to three databases per field to capture the breadth of research.
- Test Searches: Run test searches to assess database coverage and search filters, helping ensure that your selected databases align well with your inclusion criteria.
- Document Your Process: In systematic reviews, transparency is essential. Document each database used, search strategy, and rationale for inclusion to enhance reproducibility.
- Utilize Advanced Search Techniques: Use Boolean operators, filters, and thesaurus terms (e.g., MeSH in PubMed) for more effective searching and to target specific concepts.
Database Selection Tool
To streamline this process, consider using a database selection tool. For example, EviSynth offers access to a wide range of databases, assisting you in identifying and accessing relevant databases for systematic reviews. This interactive tool allows users to refine their search strategy according to their research scope and preferences, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Conclusion
Selecting an appropriate mix of databases is fundamental for conducting a high-quality systematic review. Each database offers unique strengths, and using a combination is often necessary to capture all relevant literature. A well-designed database strategy—coupled with effective search techniques—ensures comprehensive and reproducible results, minimizing research gaps.
EviSynth further enhances database selection and searching capabilities, streamlining the systematic review process and aiding researchers in achieving thorough literature coverage.