Systematic Review Toolbox

Databases & Indexes

Literature describing research studies are typically found in academic journals. These journals are often indexed and included in academic databases with other journals of similar subject matter. A thorough systematic review usually includes searches through multiple academic journal databases for all studies meeting pre-established search criteria. PubMed MEDLINE (Biomedical sciences), PsycINFO (Psychology), and CINAHL (Nursing) are the most commonly searched ones at the Health Sciences Library.

Academic Search Complete is a multi-disciplinary collection with many social science journals indexed. The Cochrane Database contains certified, quality systematic reviews and (protocols); a must-search for any scholar proposing a new systematic review. The Education Resources Information Center, or ERIC, is a digital collection of scholarly works in the realm of education and educational psychology. Google Scholar is an efficient search engine for retrieving clinical evidence, once linked to full-text articles in a library system. Finally, the Web of Science Core Collection contains a deep repository of the reputable journals and books on multiple subjects.