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Gerstein Science Information Centre

Searching the Literature: A Guide to Comprehensive Searching in the Health Sciences

Students and researchers in the health sciences are often required to conduct comprehensive searches of the literature. Follow the steps in this guide to learn how this process works.

Welcome!

Use this guide to learn how to properly and effectively conduct comprehensive searches of the literature. 

 

Remember that searching:

  • is an ITERATIVE process
  • often requires re-evaluation and testing, from adding or changing keywords and the ways they relate to each other, to choosing new resources to search, and even rewording or straight-up changing the research question!
  • is a logic puzzle that requires an understanding of precision and sensitivity
  • pretty fun once you get the hang of the process!

 

STEPS TO SEARCHING THE LITERATURE

chevron Formulate your search question 
chevron Determine whether to search precisely or sensitively
chevron Gather synonyms for your search concepts
chevron Combine your search terms logically using AND/OR (Boolean Operators)
chevron Find database-specific subject heading(s) and create textword queries for each search concept
chevron Select appropriate database(s)
chevron Use a structured, methodologically rigorous approach to conduct your search
chevron Supplement your search with pearl-growing, handsearching, and grey literature 
chevron Manage your results

 

Advanced Literature Searching - Cheat Sheet