Revisiting the need for a literature search narrative: A brief methodological note

Area of Science:

• Information Science
• Systematic Review Methodology

Background:

• Systematic reviews rely heavily on comprehensive literature searches.
• The transparency and reproducibility of literature searches are critical for review validity.
• Current methods for reporting literature searches may lack sufficient detail for thorough peer review.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose the inclusion of a search narrative alongside primary search strategies in systematic reviews.
• To explore the potential benefits of search narratives for peer review and stakeholder engagement.
• To enhance the transparency of decision-making processes in literature searching.

Main Methods:

• This is a method note, not an empirical study.
• The authors propose a conceptual framework for a search narrative.
• The note discusses the potential advantages and implications of implementing search narratives.

Main Results:

• A search narrative could provide a conceptual and contextual report on the search strategy.
• This approach may benefit the peer review of literature searches.
• Increased engagement with and discussion of search strategies from various users is anticipated.

Conclusions:

• Search narratives can enhance the transparency of decision-making in literature searching.
• Integrating search narratives may improve the quality and understanding of systematic review searches.
• This methodological suggestion aims to foster greater scrutiny and dialogue around literature search strategies.