An Exploration of Systematic Review Publication Trends in Conservation Biology Journals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29173/istl2Abstract
Researchers in conservation biology and other non-medical fields are adopting systematic review as a research methodology. Since this methodology requires extensive and well-documented literature searching, it is beneficial for information professionals to understand disciplinary developments in its use. This article investigates trends in systematic review publication in conservation biology journals between 1998 and 2017 and examines the prevalence of search reporting among these systematic reviews. Results show an increase in published systematic reviews over the study period, and the majority of these include a description of the literature search. However, evidence of variable search quality and reporting indicates an important role for librarians in improving literature search strategies and documentation.
Downloads
References
CEE (Collaboration for Environmental Evidence). 2018. Guidelines and standards for evidence synthesis in environmental management. Version 5.0. Pullin, A.S., Frampton, G.K., Livoreil, B., & Petrokofsky, G., editors. Bangor (UK): Collaboration for Environmental Evidence. Available from http://www.environmentalevidence.org/information-for-authors
Cook, C.N., Possingham, H.P., & Fuller, R.A. 2013. Contribution of systematic reviews to management decisions. Conservation Biology 27(5):902-915. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12114
Faggion, C.M., Atieh, M.A., & Park, S. 2013. Search strategies in systematic reviews in periodontal and implant dentistry. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 40(9):883-888. DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.12132
Fazey, I., Salisbury, J.G., Lindenmayer, D.B., Maindonald, J., & Douglas, R. 2004. Can methods applied in medicine be used to summarize and disseminate conservation research? Environmental Conservation 31(3):190-198. DOI: 10.1017/S0376892904001560
Foster, M.J. and Jewell, S.T. 2017. Introduction to systematic reviews. In: Foster, M.J and Jewell, S.T., editors. Assembling the pieces of a systematic review: a guide for librarians. Lanham (MD): Rowman & Littlefield. p. 1-12.
Fournier, C. & Ghezzi-Kopel, K. 2016. "I want to do a systematic review!" Presentation at: Upstate New York Science Librarians Conference. Hamilton, NY. Available from https://surface.syr.edu/nyscilib/78
Golder, S., Loke, Y., & McIntosh, H.M. 2008. Poor reporting and inadequate searches were apparent in systematic reviews of adverse effects. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 61(5):440-448. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2007.06.005
Gore, G.C. & Jones, J. 2015. Systematic reviews and librarians: a primer for managers. Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research 10(1). DOI: 10.21083/partnership.v10i1.3343
Gough, D., Oliver, S., and Thomas, J. 2017. Introducing systematic reviews. In: Gough, D. et al., editors. An introduction to systematic reviews. 2nd ed. Los Angeles (CA): SAGE. p. 1-17.
Haddaway, N.R., Land, M., & Macura, B. 2017. "A little learning is a dangerous thing": a call for better understanding of the term 'systematic review.' Environment International 99:356-360. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.12.020
Haddaway, N.R., Woodcock, P., Macura, B., & Collins, A. 2015. Making literature reviews more reliable through applications of lessons from systematic reviews. Conservation Biology 29(6):1596-1605. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12541
Heimlich, S.L. 2014. New and emerging roles for medical librarians. Journal of Hospital Librarianship 14(1):24-32. DOI: 10.1080/15323269.2014.859995
InCites Journal Citation Reports help: rank [Internet]. n.d. Clarivate Analytics; [cited 2018 May 31]. Available from http://ipscience-help.thomsonreuters.com/incitesLiveJCR/JCRGroup/jcrJournalProfile/jcrJournalProfileRank.html
Lefebvre, C., Manheimer, E., and Glanville, J. 2011. Chapter 6: searching for studies. In: Higgins, J.P.T., and Green, S., editors. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Version 5.1.0. London (UK): The Cochrane Collaboration. Available from http://www.handbook.cochrane.org
McKibbon, A. 2006. Systematic reviews and librarians. Library Trends 55(1):202-215. DOI: 10.1353/lib.2006.0049
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D.G., & The PRISMA Group. 2009. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine 6(7). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
Pullin, A.S. & Knight, T.M. 2001. Effectiveness in conservation practice: pointers from medicine and public health. Conservation Biology 15(1):50-54. DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2001.99499.x
Pullin, A.S. & Knight, T.M. 2003. Support for decision making in conservation practice: an evidence-based approach. Journal for Nature Conservation 11(2):83-90. DOI: 10.1078/1617-1381-00040
Pullin, A.S. & Knight, T.M. 2009. Doing more good than harm - building an evidence-base for conservation and environmental management. Biological Conservation 142(5):931-934. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.01.010
Pullin, A.S. & Stewart, G.B. 2006. Guidelines for systematic review in conservation and environmental management. Conservation Biology 20(6):1647-1656. DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00485.x
Rethlefsen, M.L., Farrell, A.M., Osterhaus Trzasko, L.C., & Brigham, T.J. 2015. Librarian co-authors correlated with higher quality reported search strategies in general internal medicine systematic reviews. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 68(6):617-626. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.11.025
Scope notes: Science Citation Index Expanded [Internet]. c2017. Clarivate Analytics; [cited 2018 Jun 1]. Available from http://mjl.clarivate.com/scope/scope_scie/
Spencer, A.J. & Eldredge, J.D. 2018. Roles for librarians in systematic reviews: a scoping review. Journal of the Medical Library Association 106(1):46-56. DOI: 10.5195/jmla.2018.82
Sutherland, W.J., Pullin, A.S., Dolman, P.M., & Knight, T.M. 2004. The need for evidence-based conservation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 19(6):305-308. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2004.03.018
Toews, L.C. 2017. Compliance of systematic reviews in veterinary journals with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) literature search reporting guidelines. Journal of the Medical Library Association 105(3):233-239. DOI: 10.5195/jmla.2017.246
Web of Science Core Collection help [Internet]. c2018. Clarivate Analytics; [cited 2018 May 31]. Available from https://images.webofknowledge.com/images/help/WOS/hp_subject_category_terms_tasca.html
Young, S. and Eldermire, E. 2017. The big picture: finding, evaluating, and applying systematic reviews across disciplines. In: Foster, M.J and Jewell, S.T., editors. Assembling the pieces of
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2019 Jocelyn Boice
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.