Literature searches for researchers and PhD candidates
A literature search should be adapted to the purpose of the search, and the search process should be carefully planned, tested, and documented. The University Library can assist you with your literature searches, either by conducting them for you, or by guiding you through the process.
Systematic literature search for literature reviews
When conducting various types of evidence syntheses, the literature search serves as the primary data collection method and must adhere to methodological standards.
The search strategy must be aligned with the research question and can be developed to retrieve relevant research publications on a scale ranging from finding "everything" on a given topic to finding "a high proportion" of what is relevant.
The literature search for systematic reviews or scoping reviews must identify as much as possible of the relevant literature (“everything”) concerning a specific research question. A comprehensive search often returns thousands of references to screen for relevance.
For rapid reviews or other expedited reviews often performed under time constraints, the aim of the literature search is not identifying all relevant literature, but a high proportion of it. This can be achieved by making adjustments, but it is useful to be aware that these adjustments might introduce bias in the final selection.
Information about systematic literature reviews.
Preparatory literature search for protocols, tenders or applications for research funding
The aim of a literature search for a protocol or a tender is to develop a plan for the search strategy for the search of the proposed evidence synthesis. It is important to bear in mind that protocols are often registered or published entailing a complete search strategy for one database. Hence, it is necessary to allow enough time to develop this strategy.
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For researchers
The University Library can help with:
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Conducting and reporting peer reviewed, systematic literature searches for literature reviews, like systematic reviews, scoping reviews and reports for government bodies.
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Conducting literature searches that can serve as a basis for background sections or «state-of-the-art» sections in books, journal articles og reports.
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Updating previously conducted searches.
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Guidance on using reference management tools (e.g. EndNote, Zotero) or screening tools (e.g. Rayyan or Covidence).
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Guidance in conducting literature searches yourself, both simplified and more comprehensive searches for knowledge summaries. We can also review search strategies you have devised on your own.
Collaborating with the expert search group
When you request the University Library to conduct a systematic literature search for you, there are a number of things to keep in mind. Regardless of the purpose of the literature search, close cooperation and communication between the librarians and the research group is necessary to ensure satisfactory results. Make sure you set aside enough time to discuss search terms, search sources and databases, limitations and review test results. We will also need you to supply:
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Details of the research project.
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Information about publishing plans or methodological standards that might affect the literature search.
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References to relevant articles/publications.
When conducting a systematic literature search the expert search group can:
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Offer recommendations about relevant databases and other sources.
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Provide a comprehensive and documented search strategy for all included databases. For evidence synthesis (for example systematic review articles or reports for government bodies) the search strategy will be peer reviewed.
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Write a text describing the design and development of the search, including considerations and decisions made along the way. This text might either partially or in full be used in the publication. (Only provided for evidence synthesis.)
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Write the method section specific to searching (only when participating as co-author).
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Write a description of a planned search for an application for research funding or a tender.
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Provide search results in your preferred format, e.g. an EndNote file.
Conducting systematic literature searches is often time consuming. The capacity of the University Library is limited, so please make contact as early as you can. If the waiting time is too long for your time frame, we are often able to offer guidance sessions at short notice.
Payment
External funding of commissioned research is meant to cover both direct and indirect costs. When librarians from the University Library conduct searches for externally funded commissioned projects, it is common practice to include the cost of the literature search in the project budget.
For commissioned research, the rate for conducting systematic searches is 790 NOK per hour.
Contact
Do you have any questions? Please contact us via e-mail litteratursok@oslomet.no
Request a systematic literature search
Please send the request as soon as you can. The service is in high demand, and the waiting time might in certain periods be 1-2 months.
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For PhD candidates
The University Library offers guidance sessions on systematic literature searches for systematic review, or other kinds of searches.
The guidance sessions can be adapted to your project and prior knowledge. We can also offer feedback on the searches you have designed yourself. Information about our course offerings.
For groups it is also possible to book a course (oslomet.no).
Do you have any questions? Please contact us via e-mail litteratursok@oslomet.no