Evidence Synthesis for Librarians and Information Specialists — Open & Free

Learning objectives by module

Module 0 – Welcome – What to Expect

Module 1 – Introduction to Evidence Synthesis

• Define evidence synthesis.
• Understand the value of evidence synthesis across the disciplines.

Module 2 – Exploring Different Review Methodologies

• Define different types of evidence synthesis methods including systematic review, meta-analysis, scoping reviews, systematic maps and rapid reviews.
• Compare and contrast scoping and systematic reviews and describe the contexts in which these methods would be applied.

Module 3 – Reproducibility, transparent methods, and pre-registration

• Define reproducibility
• Define replicability

Module 4 – Evidence synthesis steps and librarians as co-investigators

• Identify the high-level steps of evidence synthesis.
• Describe the role of librarian in supporting systematic reviews.

Module 5 – Systematic review guidelines / checklists / reporting standards

• Compare and contrast the difference between reporting and conducting guidelines.
• Locate reporting and conducting guidelines 

Module 6 – Introduction to protocols and protocol registration (ZP)

• Describe the rationale for public registration of a protocol
• Describe the elements of a protocol
• Select a suitable registry (repository) for an ES protocol

Module 7 – Formulating a research question

• Define the Goldilocks principle.
• Define the Russian Doll Principle.
• Apply the Goldilocks principle, russian doll principle to create appropriately scoped questions.

Module 8 – Frameworks (Eg., PICO) and eligibility criteria

• Define PICO & other research frameworks in order to create focussed research questions &  effective search strategies
• Define inclusion and exclusion criteria in order to

Module 9 – Reference Interview

• List an initial set of prompt questions that would be useful in a reference interview for an evidence synthesis project
  • Compare and contrast prompt questions you would use in an evidence synthesis reference interview versus a traditional reference interview.  
  • Identify the institutional/contextual factors that influence an evidence synthesis reference interviews.
  • Describe how disciplinary differences might influence an evidence synthesis reference interviews.
  • Understand the importance of negotiating expectations (for the role that the librarian will play) in an evidence synthesis reference interview.

Module 10 – Selecting databases for evidence synthesis

• Explain why multiple sources should be searched in a systematic review
• Understand the limits of Google Scholar

Module 11 – Developing a systematic search

• Compare and contrast traditional database searching and systematic review searching
• Construct an effective concept-blocked search strategy correctly using various search elements such as subject headings, keywords and operators.
• Use database syntax and field searching appropriately in the design of a systematic review search strategy
• Explain how and when to use search filters, limits and hedges in a systematic review search 
• Run searches making use of database features for saving and exporting search results

Module 12 – Adapting Searches Across Database Platforms

• Adapt the different elements of a search from one database to another using the correct database syntax

Module 13 – Supplementary Search Methods and Documenting Your Searches

• Use a variety of supplementary searching methods to identify additional studies not found through database and gray literature searching
• Explain the utility and importance of documenting your searches during a systematic review.
• Document the search methods for reporting and reproducibility.

Module 14 – Grey Literature

• Define and provide examples of types of grey literature.
• Design and document a search process for grey literature sources.

Module 15 – Writing the methods section and the PRISMA Flow Diagrams

• Identify an appropriate reporting guidelines for your review project
• Select the appropriate template for PRISMA flow diagrams
• Assess a search methods section against the PRISMA-S guidelines