In March, SSCR Research Trainees, Elsie and Mari-Liis, attended a two day short course on Systematic Approaches to Searching for Evidence, delivered by Sheffield Centre for Health And Related Research (SCHARR).
Accessible Summary
- In March, two SSCR Research Trainees went to a two-day training course on searching for research evidence at the University of Sheffield.
- The course taught us how to find research in a clear and organised way to support research reviews.
- We learned about different types of reviews, planning searches, choosing databases and finding information such as grey literature
- We also learned about using Artificial Intelligence tools like Elicit and NotebookLM to support research searching.
- The practical activities and live demonstrations helped us to build confidence and develop our research skills.
- We will use what we have learned to better support the projects we work on.
SSCR Research Trainees account of the course
The course gave us a really valuable introduction to conducting systematic literature reviews and the principles behind searching for evidence in a thorough and transparent way.
On the first day, we explored the seven different review ‘families’, including systematic reviews, rapid reviews, mixed methods reviews and big picture reviews. Through interactive activities, live demonstrations, and discussions, we developed a much clearer understanding of the differences between review types and how to choose the most appropriate approach depending on the research question and purpose.
We were also introduced to question frameworks and how they can be used to design effective search questions and shape the scope of a project. This helped us to think about how to approach the literature more systematically, including choosing suitable databases and developing clear and comprehensive search strategies.
On the second day, we explored more advanced and practical aspects of systematic searching, including complementary search methods, documenting searches and knowing when to stop searching. We learned about approaches such as citation tracking, pearl growing and grey literature searching, which can help identify relevant evidence beyond traditional database searches. The sessions highlighted the importance of transparency and reproducibility, with a strong focus on accurately documenting search strategies, recording decisions made throughout the process and following reporting guidance such as PRISMA-S.
A particularly interesting session explored the growing role of AI within evidence synthesis and systematic searching. We discussed both the opportunities and limitations of tools such as Elicit and NotebookLM, and the importance of using AI responsibly and critically within research processes. Overall, the second day reinforced how systematic searching is both a structured and iterative process, requiring careful judgement, flexibility and reflection throughout.
As part of our current roles, we are both supporting scoping reviews within existing SSCR-funded projects at the University of Sheffield, so attending this course has been invaluable in helping us contribute more confidently and effectively to these projects. We have already been able to put many of the techniques and approaches we learned directly into practice within our own work. The course has not only strengthened our understanding of evidence synthesis methods, but has also helped us to develop our skills and confidence as researchers.
