IACUC Literature Searches: Reporting your results
Filling out the application
What to include
- Names of the databases used
- GoogleScholar is not an acceptable database
- Date the search was run
- Keywords and an overview the search strategy used
- A narrative of what you discovered in your search
Supporting Documentation
- Search stings and or keywords used
- Screenshots of search histories for each database used
- Preferably with a date stamp (usually from the clock on the screen)
Search Strategies & Screenshots
Time Stamps
It's important to include when the search was performed. This is because new literature is being produced constantly, and at different stages of the research project it might be necessary to re-run the searches - if for example there is a modification or a renewal - the IACUC needs to be able to determine if your searches are still relevant or they should be re done for the most up to date results.
Therefore, when capturing screenshots, please include the date from the clock on screen. At a minimum the date need to be included in the written portion of the Search Strategies section of the Supporting Documentation - for each database searched - they needn't be all on the same day.
Capturing Search Histories
It is not necessary to include a screen shot for every search performed. However the IACUC does need to see which searches were done. A more concise way to do this is with a screen shot of the search history.
Example from PubMed
After doing your searches, click on Advanced under the search box. See screen shot below.
Once you click Advanced, you can not only do an advanced search, but this is where you'll find the History and Search Details. Providing a screen shot of this page, is the most concise way to share provide evidence that you did all the searches you said you did. See screen shot below.
Example from Web of Science
Please note that Web of Science is an interface for many databases, it is not itself a database. However the instructions here are relevant to any database accessed via Web of Science.
After doing your searches, click on Advanced Search in the upper left of the screen. See screen shot below.
Once you click Advanced Search, you can not only do an advanced search, but this is where you'll find the Session Queries. Providing a screen shot of this page, is the most concise way to share provide evidence that you did all the searches you said you did. See screen shot below.
Example from EBSCO
Please note that EBSCO is an interface for many databases, it is not itself a database. However the instructions here are relevant to any database accessed via EBSCO.
After doing your searches, click on Search History under the search boxes. See screen shot below.
Once you click Search History, you can not only do an advanced search, but this is where you'll find a summary of what you searched for. Providing a screen shot of this page, is the most concise way to share provide evidence that you did all the searches you said you did. See screen shot below.
