Background: The search for studies for a systematic review should be conducted systematically and reported transparently to facilitate reproduction. This study aimed to report on the conduct and reporting of backward citation searching (ie, checking reference lists) and forward citation searching in a cross section of Cochrane reviews. Citation…

Introduction: The number of systematic reviews of health economic evaluations (SR-HEs) is increasing. We aimed at providing a detailed overview of the characteristics and applied methods in recently published SR-HEs. Methods: We searched MEDLINE (03/2017) for SR-HEs published since 2015 using validated search filters. We included studies that…

Objective: Search strategies are essential for the adequate retrieval of studies in a systematic review (SR). Our objective was to identify problems in the design and reporting of search strategies in a sample of new Cochrane SRs first published in The Cochrane Library in 2015. Study design and setting: We took a random sample of 70 new Cochrane…

This paper presents a financial statements analysis (FSA) project that integrates Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters in an introductory MBA accounting course. The project introduces students to leading financial databases that are used in practice and helps them to understand how such databases can be effectively leveraged to analyze both the financial…

When the Medical Library Association identified questions critical for the future of the profession, it assigned groups to use systematic reviews to find the answers to these questions. Group 6, whose question was on emerging technologies, recognized early on that the systematic review process would not work well for this question, which looks…

A complete description of the literature search, including the criteria used for the inclusion of reports after they have been located, used in a research synthesis or meta-analysis is critical if subsequent researchers are to accurately evaluate and reproduce a synthesis' methods and results. Based on previous guidelines and new suggestions, we…

This working paper from the American National Standards Committee Z-39, Subcommittee G on Standard Terms, Abbreviations and Symbols for Use in Interactive Information Retrieval discusses the issue of standardization for command languages used in interactive online searching of bibliographic databases. (EJS)

Presents a chart that explains the search syntax, features, and commands used by the 12 most widely used general Web search engines. Discusses Web standardization, expanded types of content searched, size of databases, and search engines that include both simple and advanced versions. (LRW)

Describes desired software enhancements identified by the Southern California Online Users Group in the areas of search language, database selection, document retrieval and display, user interface, customer support, and cost and economic issues. The need to prioritize these wishes and to determine whether features should reside in the mainframe or…

Discussion of computer-aided indexing activity focuses on examples from projects at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Standardization and quality in providing subject access to databases are considered; and computer-aided lexicography, including thesaurus construction, access vocabulary, definitions preparation,…

Investigates retrieval performance of controlled and uncontrolled subject representations as a function of retrieval expectation in the cystic fibrosis (CF) database. (Contains 22 references.) (KRN)

Describes bibliographic tools to aid the librarian in locating standards and specifications in the two most commonly faced situations: when the designation of the standard is known, and when standards on a particular subject are needed. International, government, and military standards are covered. A 24-item bibliography is included. (Author/JL)

Describes document acquisition, selection, indexing, and abstracting and discusses online searching of the CIS database, an online system produced by the International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre. This database comprehensively covers information in the field of occupational health and safety. Sample searches and search…

Issues concerning the implementation of standard user interfaces for CD-ROMs are discussed, including differing perceptions of the ideal interface, graphical user interfaces, user needs, and the standard protocols. It is suggested users should be able to select from a variety of user interfaces on each CD-ROM. (EA)

Prepared for consideration by the Network Technical Architecture Group (NTAG), a subcommittee of the Library of Congress (LC) Network Advisory Group, this document describes the study and development of text formats for the message delivery system of a nationwide library bibliographic network. Following a discussion of network considerations of…