How do you know whether your search is finding the studies that matter? This 45-minute session introduces participants to the use of known relevant studies as a tool for developing and evaluating evidence synthesis searches. Known relevant studies can help researchers identify keywords and controlled vocabulary, discover additional literature through citation searching, and assess whether a search strategy is performing as expected. In this workshop, we will discuss how to identify and select known relevant studies, use them to inform search development, and evaluate search performance through search validation. Participants will also be introduced to tools that support terminology discovery, indexing analysis, and citation chasing. Finally, we will explore the strengths and limitations of using known relevant studies as a quality assurance measure in evidence synthesis searching.

By the end of this class, participants will be able to:

• Explain the role of known relevant studies in evidence synthesis searching.
• Identify studies appropriate for search development and search validation.
• Use known relevant studies to identify keywords, subject headings, and other search terminology.
• Apply tools to explore indexing patterns and discover related literature.
• Evaluate whether a search strategy retrieves known relevant studies and identify potential gaps in search performance.
• Recognize the strengths and limitations of using known relevant studies as a search validation method.

This class is ideal for researchers, students, clinicians, and anyone conducting a systematic review, scoping review, or other evidence synthesis project. Whether you are developing your first search strategy or looking to strengthen your search methodology, this session will provide practical techniques for improving search quality and transparency.

Format:

Lecture-style presentation with opportunities for discussion, demonstrations, and Q&A.

🏆Eligible for .75 CME credits🏆