Thursday, May 27, 2010
The COSI Model
We use the COSI model (Bidwell and Jensen, 2004) to guide the search process. It outlines three types of literature searches:
The COre search - This search uses essential sources only - focusing on the greatest expected yield - and uses mostly published and indexed literature
The Standard search - This search includes additional sources which are expected to add to the Core search, including the practice literature
The Ideal search - This search attempts to "leave no stone unturned"
This model highlights a key point about literature searching, that finding most or all of papers for a given topic or question is based on the time spent searching. However, we can also search in a targeted way, in places we expect to find some or a few of the main papers on a given topic or question. In other words, the three types of searches in the COSI model can be “ranked in the order of expected yield (in terms of return for time spent)” (Bidwell and Jensen, 2004).
In sum, there is a trade-off between the ideal search for finding the relevant literature and the time frame given. To determine which type of search is right for you or your situation, you must go back to your original research aim or question.
Reference:
Bidwell S, Jensen MF. (2004) Chapter 3: Using a Search Protocol to Identify Sources of Information: the COSI Model in Topfer L-A, Auston I (Eds). Etext on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Information Resources. Bethesda, MD: National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR), US National Library of Medicine.
The COre search - This search uses essential sources only - focusing on the greatest expected yield - and uses mostly published and indexed literature
The Standard search - This search includes additional sources which are expected to add to the Core search, including the practice literature
The Ideal search - This search attempts to "leave no stone unturned"
This model highlights a key point about literature searching, that finding most or all of papers for a given topic or question is based on the time spent searching. However, we can also search in a targeted way, in places we expect to find some or a few of the main papers on a given topic or question. In other words, the three types of searches in the COSI model can be “ranked in the order of expected yield (in terms of return for time spent)” (Bidwell and Jensen, 2004).
In sum, there is a trade-off between the ideal search for finding the relevant literature and the time frame given. To determine which type of search is right for you or your situation, you must go back to your original research aim or question.
Reference:
Bidwell S, Jensen MF. (2004) Chapter 3: Using a Search Protocol to Identify Sources of Information: the COSI Model in Topfer L-A, Auston I (Eds). Etext on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Information Resources. Bethesda, MD: National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR), US National Library of Medicine.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Store your references online
Goto EndNote Web (http://www.endnoteweb.com/) to store your references online.
This system is useful when working in project teams and it also gives your captured references an automatic link back to your home library.
References can easily be transferred to and from your desktop.
This system is useful when working in project teams and it also gives your captured references an automatic link back to your home library.
References can easily be transferred to and from your desktop.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Searching the grey or practice literature
A presentation from the National Health Outcomes Conference 2006 "Managing Health and Disease in Today's Society" in Canberra (http://chsd.uow.edu.au/ahoc/earlierconferences.html).
Title: Searching the Grey Literature: It’s not black and white
Authors: Nick Marosszeky, Dave Fildes and Alan Owen
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=38642846
Title: Searching the Grey Literature: It’s not black and white
Authors: Nick Marosszeky, Dave Fildes and Alan Owen
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=38642846
Looking for gold
This site will help you look for gold in the scientific and practice literature (in our knowledge based economy).
As they say in Australia, "Life is short".
As they say in Australia, "Life is short".
Source:
Know your timeframe
The Rapid Evidence Assessment Toolkit provides a useful guide to the amount of time required for different types of literature reviews.
See http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/my-civil-service/networks/professional/gsr/resources/rea-methods.aspx
This work was produced by Government Social Researchers (http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/my-civil-service/networks/professional/gsr/resources/gsr-rapid-evidence-assessment-toolkit.aspx) and the EPPI-Centre (http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/) in the UK.
See http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/my-civil-service/networks/professional/gsr/resources/rea-methods.aspx
This work was produced by Government Social Researchers (http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/my-civil-service/networks/professional/gsr/resources/gsr-rapid-evidence-assessment-toolkit.aspx) and the EPPI-Centre (http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/) in the UK.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)