Library

First, refer to the literature search and review in MVLS resources.

In particular:

• Formulating a research question and structuring a literature search
• Developing literature search strategies
• Searching library databases

Next, make an appointment, once your appointment is booked, email details of your searches to Paul three working days ahead of the appointment.

Make an appointment

Follow this workflow for systematic and scoping reviews.

Note that your appointment may be cancelled if each step is not complete.

1 - Resources

First, work through the following systematic and scoping review resources:

1. Part 1: Introduction to systematic and scoping reviews
2. Part 2: Developing a review protocol
3. Part 3: Searching bibliographic databases
4. Part 4: Translating a search
5. Part 5: Searching grey literature and other sources

2 - Email your review protocol

Email your review protocol to Paul. Please allow at least five working days for feedback. Discuss any comments with the review team or supervisors and action any changes before publishing your protocol. You may be invited to an appointment following feedback.

3 - Develop a search strategy

Following feedback, develop an appropriate search strategy consisting of titles, abstracts, and subject headings for at least one database.

• Either proceed to making an appointment or email Paul with exported search strategies for comment. Please allow at least three working days for feedback.
• For appointments, search strategies should be emailed three working days ahead of an appointment. Appointments should therefore not be made sooner than three working days from today’s date.

Should you encounter any problems during development of a protocol or a search strategy, please make an appointment but ensure that this is clearly noted in the ‘Reason for appointment’ box to avoid your appointment being cancelled.