Dear Michelle,
It depends what sort of lit searching you are asking about. An enquiry service responding to several customer requests would need a different approach to documentation to a team supporting systematic reviews.
The Cochrane Information Retrieval Method Group (IRMG) published a paper with suggested approaches to documentation for the latter scenario, which might be of interest:
Rader T et al. Methods for documenting systematic review searches: a discussion of common issues. Research Synthesis Methods. 2014, 5(2): 98–115. DOI: 10.1002/jrsm.1097
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jrsm.1097/abstract
Thanks,
Kate Misso
Kate Misso
Information Specialist Manager
Kleijnen Systematic Reviews Ltd.
Unit 6
Escrick Business Park
Riccall Road
York YO19 6FD
Tel: 01904 727991
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: www.systematic-reviews.com
***Please note my working days are usually Monday to Thursday***
From: Michelle Maden [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 09 December 2014 14:47
Subject: Recording the literature searches undertaken
Hi all,
I'm looking at how people document their literature searches once they are completed. Two simple questions would help me out greatly!
1. How do you keep a record of the searches you have done (e.g. Do you use EXCEL/WORD or other?)?
2. What information do you record on the search request (e.g. name of requester, question, databases searched (or number of databases searched), time taken to complete search, etc?
I'd like to collate a number of different options for recording the information, and would be grateful as ever for your input!
Kind regards,
Michelle
Michelle Maden, MA (Hons), PGCert HET&L, MA, FHEA
Associate Tutor FOHSC
Edge Hill University