Systematically retrieving research: a case study evaluating seven databases

Brian Taylor; Emma Wylie; Martin Dempster; Michael Donnelly

Systematically retrieving research: a case study evaluating seven databases

Brian Taylor, Emma Wylie, Martin Dempster, Michael Donnelly

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objective Developing the scientific underpinnings of social welfare requires effective and efficient methods of retrieving relevant items from the increasing volume of research. Method We compared seven databases by running the nearest equivalent search on each. The search topic was chosen for relevance to Social Work practice with older people. Results Highest sensitivity was achieved by Medline (52%), SSCI (46%) and CINAHL (30%). Highest precision was achieved by AgeInfo (76%), PsycInfo (51%) and Social Services Abstracts (41%). Each database retrieved unique relevant articles. Conclusions Comprehensive searching requires the development of information management skills. The Social Work profession would benefit from having a dedicated international database with the capability and facilities of major databases such as Medline, CINAHL and PsycInfo.

Original language	English
Journal	Research on Social Work Practice
Volume	17
Issue number	6
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 30 Jun 2007

Keywords

Databases, bibliographic; evidence based practice; information storage and retrieval; review literature as topic.

Cite this

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title = "Systematically retrieving research: a case study evaluating seven databases",

abstract = "Objective Developing the scientific underpinnings of social welfare requires effective and efficient methods of retrieving relevant items from the increasing volume of research. Method We compared seven databases by running the nearest equivalent search on each. The search topic was chosen for relevance to Social Work practice with older people. Results Highest sensitivity was achieved by Medline (52%), SSCI (46%) and CINAHL (30%). Highest precision was achieved by AgeInfo (76%), PsycInfo (51%) and Social Services Abstracts (41%). Each database retrieved unique relevant articles. Conclusions Comprehensive searching requires the development of information management skills. The Social Work profession would benefit from having a dedicated international database with the capability and facilities of major databases such as Medline, CINAHL and PsycInfo.",

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AU - Taylor, Brian

AU - Wylie, Emma

AU - Dempster, Martin

AU - Donnelly, Michael

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N2 - Objective Developing the scientific underpinnings of social welfare requires effective and efficient methods of retrieving relevant items from the increasing volume of research. Method We compared seven databases by running the nearest equivalent search on each. The search topic was chosen for relevance to Social Work practice with older people. Results Highest sensitivity was achieved by Medline (52%), SSCI (46%) and CINAHL (30%). Highest precision was achieved by AgeInfo (76%), PsycInfo (51%) and Social Services Abstracts (41%). Each database retrieved unique relevant articles. Conclusions Comprehensive searching requires the development of information management skills. The Social Work profession would benefit from having a dedicated international database with the capability and facilities of major databases such as Medline, CINAHL and PsycInfo.

AB - Objective Developing the scientific underpinnings of social welfare requires effective and efficient methods of retrieving relevant items from the increasing volume of research. Method We compared seven databases by running the nearest equivalent search on each. The search topic was chosen for relevance to Social Work practice with older people. Results Highest sensitivity was achieved by Medline (52%), SSCI (46%) and CINAHL (30%). Highest precision was achieved by AgeInfo (76%), PsycInfo (51%) and Social Services Abstracts (41%). Each database retrieved unique relevant articles. Conclusions Comprehensive searching requires the development of information management skills. The Social Work profession would benefit from having a dedicated international database with the capability and facilities of major databases such as Medline, CINAHL and PsycInfo.

KW - Databases, bibliographic; evidence based practice; information storage and retrieval; review literature as topic.

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JO - Research on Social Work Practice

JF - Research on Social Work Practice

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Systematically retrieving research: a case study evaluating seven databases

Abstract

Keywords

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