Evidence Synthesis in the Social Sciences

This guide will give you an overview of evidence synthesis methodology and discuss relevant resources and tools.

Database Selection

Why It is important to select multiple databases

  1. To be comprehensive
  2. Interdisciplinary topics
  3. Minimize biases
  4. Searching for Grey Literature
  5. Broaden your geographic scope

Database Content to look for:

  1. Years of Coverage

  2. Publication types you want

    • Dissertations

    • Scholarly literature

    • Government documents

    • Grey literature

  3. Publication types you do not want

    • Trade literature

    • News

Systematic reviews: 3: Target appropriate resources with effective strategies. Library Guides. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://unimelb.libguides.com/sysrev/search-strategies

Database search features

  • Subject headings

  • Boolean, proximity

  • Ease of combining sets

  • Advanced searching

    • Searching particular fields

    • Command line searching

 

Systematic reviews: 3: Target appropriate resources with effective strategies. Library Guides. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://unimelb.libguides.com/sysrev/search-strategies

Sources for grey literature

  • Grey Literature is  material that is published outside of traditional publishing
  • Grey literature examples could include government publications, conference proceedings, a thesis, and/or conference abstracts.

Find your subject guide or contact your librarian

Assistant Professor

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Tracey Overbey
Contact:
222E Thompson Library
1858 Neil Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
614-688-8775