Systematic reviews require systematic searches using thoughtful search strings.
Always check if the database you are searching includes a THESAURUS listing their controlled vocabulary subject heading terms. Often it is best to use both thesaurus terms and keywords in a search.
Some tips for searching:
Choose the databases you will search for your review based on your topic. See below for databases commonly searched in a social sciences systematic review -- but consult the Library's database list for a more comprehensive listing.
This article is useful in thinking about which databases to search in a health-sciences related systematic review (this article is not focused on the social sciences).
Citations, abstracts, and full text access to information on the effects of interventions in health care. Includes systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials, summaries of systematic reviews, reports from health technology assessment organizations, economic evaluations of health care interventions, and more. Updated quarterly.
The database has over 2.1 million full-text dissertations and theses. It also contains indexing of 3.8 million graduate works. Primarily US, UK and Ireland but increasingly from other countries. Designated as an official offsite repository for the U.S. Library of Congress. Coverage: 1861-present.
A biomedical research literature database that is also useful in building comprehensive systematic reviews for evidence-based medicine decisions.
The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) includes scholarly articles, reports, curriculum and teaching guides and conference papers covering multiple levels of education from preK to higher education.
It is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the United States Department of Education. Provides a more robust search interface of the freely available ERIC database. Coverage: 1966-present.
Focused on public policy research and issues. Includes international journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference reports, and publications of international agencies. Does not include newspapers. Coverage: 1915-present.
The best resource for psychology related topics in journal articles, book chapters, books, dissertations and reports. Published by the American Psychological Association (APA). Coverage: 1887-present.
Articles on sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. Includes Social Services Abstracts database which focuses on social work, human services, social welfare, social policy, and community development. Coverage: 1952-present.
Multidisciplinary collection of citations and abstracts for scholarly journal articles, proceedings, data sets, and other resources. Has a tool for citation analysis. Includes the Arts & Humanities Citation Index, Science Citation Index, Social Science Citation Index, among others.
Gray literature is literature that is outside the usual mainstream of published literature such as journals and books. It can include government reports, policy papers from NGOs, conference papers, dissertations/theses, etc. (see other types). It is often included in a systematic review search.
Reasons to include gray literature:
Depth and Breadth: Even if an article or book chapter is eventually produced from grey literature, such as a thesis or conference proceeding, the original work may contain data that is never included in the journal article that is ultimately published using its findings. Grey literature might also offer a broader view, such as a government factsheet or community perspectives on a blog.
Timeliness: Results of studies may appear in grey literature 12 to 18 months before being published via traditional channels.
Flexibility: Rather than waiting years for the publication of a revised edition, authors, editors, and content creators can update information when needed, a factor that reinforces the timeliness of grey literature.
Open Access: There is a great abundance of grey literature that is freely available online.
See the UNM Health Science Library & Informatics Center research guide on "Searching for grey literature" for more information. Though focused in the health sciences, this page may be useful.
In addtion, the Harvard Kennedy School's THINK TANK SEARCh is a great way to search the websites of think tanks for policy reports, etc.:
Databases listed in the "Article databases to consdier searching" box above can sometimes also include gray literature, especially:
The database has over 2.1 million full-text dissertations and theses. It also contains indexing of 3.8 million graduate works. Primarily US, UK and Ireland but increasingly from other countries. Designated as an official offsite repository for the U.S. Library of Congress. Coverage: 1861-present.
Focused on public policy research and issues. Includes international journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference reports, and publications of international agencies. Does not include newspapers. Coverage: 1915-present.
The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) includes scholarly articles, reports, curriculum and teaching guides and conference papers covering multiple levels of education from preK to higher education.
It is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the United States Department of Education. Provides a more robust search interface of the freely available ERIC database. Coverage: 1966-present.
Searchable access to the full-text of all Annual Reviews titles. It publishes state-of-the-art reviews on important topics. It publishes most heavily in the sciences, but also publishes in the social sciences. Available to UNM NetID holders only.