Problem solving

It is normal to not find what you need immediately. Searching is trial and error. You are testing your search strategy.

Keep track of what you have tried so that you can see which searches have been helpful, and which have not. Your search strategy will evolve and improve as you discover terminology, phrases, and learn more about your search topic.

The systematic search method is designed to be exhaustive. It is possible there is not much research literature on your topic, which could indicate a gap in research to date. You will need to justify that conclusion by:

• repeating your systematic search in multiple health databases
• recording the search terms you used, the number of search results, any limits used, for each database

Your search strategy will need to be just as rigorous because you do not want to accidentally miss important evidence.

A common error researches often make when systematic searching is overlapping keywords or subject headings across concepts. 

For instance, when asking a database for suggested subject headings during selection, you may encounter a situation where the suggested heading is appropriate to your inquiry but may not precisely align with the concept you are presently addressing. It is advisable to maintain uniqueness in your choice of subject headings  and ensure they are specific to the intended concept.

The same applies to keywords.  Be mindful when formulating your research question and/or identifying synonyms for your concepts that each concept remains unique. 

Inadvertently using similar or identical keywords or subject headings across two or more concepts can result in a flood of irrelevant results.