Research topic or research question: The research topic is a key part of the search process and obviously guides your search for literature. However, it may not be appropriately phrased to use in the development of a search strategy. For that you need the research question.
Research question: Very often you will have one research question from which you can derive your search strategy. Sometimes you may need more than one research question and more than one search strategy.
Writing questions: Take time to review and rewrite your research question; it is very important but can be quite elusive / vague. Try writing it and redrafting it a number of times. You might also want to discuss it with an Academic, Tutor, or Librarian. It is interesting that, when discussing search questions with researchers, often after quite some time they will say "Well actually what I am looking for is..." and then they are able to go back and review the question.
Search frameworks: There are many search frameworks that can help you to map your research topic to your keywords to you research question . Look at the further reading section on this page for links to useful information on the topic.
Examples include:
Worked example using PICO:
Research topic: The use of mass media to prevent smoking in young people
Keyword table:
|
P (Population/Problem) Young people |
I (Intervention) Mass media interventions |
C (Comparison) No comparison |
O (Outcome) Preventing smoking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child | Mass media | Cigarette | |
| Adolescent | Radio | Cigar | |
| Young adult | Television | Tobacco | |
| School child | Newspapers | AND | |
| Advertising | Reduction | ||
| Cessation | |||
| Prevention |
Research question: Are mass media interventions effective in preventing smoking in young people?
Limiters: Peer reviewed; Publication date range; Age range; Language(s); Others
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: The limiters above will form part of the wider inclusion/exclusion criteria that you devise and use for sifting your results.
Sources to search: Minimum: Cochrane; PROSPERO; Medline; Embase; CINAHL; PsycINFO
A template is a useful way to lay out your search; they may differ slightly but follow a similar pattern of getting you to think about your research topic, keywords and research question.
An example search planning form template is available on the BU Health library guide but you may create one yourself. It should include:
Bettany-Saltikov, J., 2012. How to do a systematic literature review in nursing: a step-by-step guide [online]. Maidenhead: Open University Press.