(With thanks to Paul Glasziou for getting this ball rolling again):
Must be a contender, if only for its integration of the 'snowballing'
process into the search process:
Greenhalgh T, Peacock R. Effectiveness and efficiency of search methods
in systematic reviews of complex evidence: audit of primary sources BMJ,
Nov 2005; 331: 1064 - 1065.
Abstract: Objective: To describe where papers come from in a systematic
review of complex evidence. Method: Audit of how the 495 primary sources
for the review were originally identified. Results: Only 30% of sources
were obtained from the protocol defined at the outset of the study (that
is, from the database and hand searches). Fifty one per cent were
identified by "snowballing" (such as pursuing references of references),
and 24% by personal knowledge or personal contacts.
Conclusion: Systematic reviews of complex evidence cannot rely solely on
protocol-driven search strategies.
http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=16230312
or
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/331/7524/1064
Reinhard Wentz
Reinhard Wentz, Dipl. Bibl.
Medical Informaticist
33, Gladstone Avenue
Twickenham TW2 7PS
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