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Knowledge Synthesis Support Guideline

Level 1: Introductory Consultation

• Who is eligible to use this service?

  Current undergraduate students (e.g., a student helping a faculty member with a part of their review), graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, and faculty members at Ontario Tech University.

   

• What is required of you?

  Before the first meeting with the librarian:

  • Read the Start Here section of the  and/or
  • Attend the Literature Searching for Knowledge Synthesis workshop or . Upcoming workshops and previous slides, materials, and recordings can be found in the Workshops & Training section of the or the
  • Send your research question to your subject librarian in advance of the meeting.
• What does Level 1 Consultation involve?

  An introductory consultation may include:

  • Advising on the type of review appropriate to the research question
  • Clarifying information on the following steps in the review process including how to:
    • Refine your research question
    • Establish inclusion and exclusion criteria
    • Determine if an existing review or protocol on your topic already exists
    • Create and register a protocol
    • Choose databases, gray literature sources, and other information resources
    • Document and report search results
    • Select an appropriate tool for managing citations (e.g., EndNote)

  Any additional support is considered Level 2: Extended Consultation.

Level 2: Extended Consultation

• Who is eligible to use this service?

  Current graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants and faculty members at Ontario Tech University.

   

• What is required of you?

  Before the first meeting with the librarian:

  • Read the Start Here section of the  and/or
  • Attend the Literature Searching for Knowledge Synthesis workshop or . Upcoming workshops and previous slides, materials, and recordings can be found in the Workshops & Training section of the or the
  • Fill out the
  • Develop your protocol. Information about writing the protocol can be found under Step 2 on the  or
  • Submit the online and send the final version of your protocol by email to your subject librarian 5 business days before your scheduled appointment. This allows the librarian time to adequately prepare for your consultation

  Please Note: All ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV University students conducting their own reviews are required to complete the Project Proposal Form with their supervising faculty member for a Level 2: Extended Consultation.

• What does Level 2 Consultation involve?

  An extended consultation may include:

  • Refining the research question
  • Recommendations for specific databases and resources to include in your review
  • Assistance with developing a comprehensive search strategy, including selecting appropriate keywords, subject headings, and syntax
  • Instruction on how to develop, test and translate search strategies for different databases
  • Tips for gray literature searching, hand searching, and supplementary search methods
  • Advice on using search filters/hedges to capture elements such as study designs, population groups, etc.
  • Guidance on how to export all search results to a citation management tool and how to use EndNote for managing citations and removing duplicates
  • Information on how to report search methods according to the PRISMA-S guideline
  • Best practices for documenting the search in the final manuscript (e.g., Methods section, Appendix)
  • Options for dissemination of the published paper