Choosing and using methodological search filters: searchers' views

Sophie Beale; Steven Duffy; Julie Glanville; Carol Lefebvre; Dianne Wright; Rachael McCool; Danielle Varley; Charles Boachie; Cynthia Fraser; Jenny Harbour; Lynne Smith

doi:10.1111/hir.12062

Choosing and using methodological search filters: searchers' views

Sophie Beale, Steven Duffy, Julie Glanville, Carol Lefebvre, Dianne Wright, Rachael McCool, Danielle Varley, Charles Boachie, Cynthia Fraser, Jenny Harbour, Lynne Smith

Applied Health Sciences

University of Liverpool

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

14 Citations (Scopus)

6 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Search filters or hedges are search strategies developed to assist information specialists and librarians to retrieve different types of evidence from bibliographic databases. The objectives of this project were to learn about searchers' filter use, how searchers choose search filters and what information they would like to receive to inform their choices.

METHODS: Interviews with information specialists working in, or for, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) were conducted. An online questionnaire survey was also conducted and advertised via a range of email lists.

RESULTS: Sixteen interviews were undertaken and 90 completed questionnaires were received. The use of search filters tends to be linked to reducing a large amount of literature, introducing focus and assisting with searches that are based on a single study type. Respondents use numerous ways to identify search filters and can find choosing between different filters problematic because of knowledge gaps and lack of time.

CONCLUSIONS: Search filters are used mainly for reducing large result sets (introducing focus) and assisting with searches focused on a single study type. Features that would help with choosing filters include making information about filters less technical, offering ratings and providing more detail about filter validation strategies and filter provenance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	133-147
Number of pages	15
Journal	Health Information & Libraries Journal
Volume	31
Issue number	2
Early online date	23 Apr 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12062
Publication status	Published - Jun 2014

Bibliographical note

Keywords

database searching
databases
bibliographic
information services
surveys
librarians
methodological filters

Access to Document

10.1111/hir.12062

Beale 2014
This is the accepted version of the following article: Beale, S, Duffy, S, Glanville, J, Lefebvre, C, Wright, D, McCool, R, Varley, D, Boachie, C, Fraser, C, Harbour, J & Smith, L 2014, 'Choosing and using methodological search filters: searchers' views' Health Information & Libraries Journal, vol 31, no. 2, pp. 133-147., which has been published in final form at 10.1111/hir.12062
Accepted author manuscript, 361 KB

Cite this

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title = "Choosing and using methodological search filters: searchers' views",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Search filters or hedges are search strategies developed to assist information specialists and librarians to retrieve different types of evidence from bibliographic databases. The objectives of this project were to learn about searchers' filter use, how searchers choose search filters and what information they would like to receive to inform their choices.METHODS: Interviews with information specialists working in, or for, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) were conducted. An online questionnaire survey was also conducted and advertised via a range of email lists.RESULTS: Sixteen interviews were undertaken and 90 completed questionnaires were received. The use of search filters tends to be linked to reducing a large amount of literature, introducing focus and assisting with searches that are based on a single study type. Respondents use numerous ways to identify search filters and can find choosing between different filters problematic because of knowledge gaps and lack of time.CONCLUSIONS: Search filters are used mainly for reducing large result sets (introducing focus) and assisting with searches focused on a single study type. Features that would help with choosing filters include making information about filters less technical, offering ratings and providing more detail about filter validation strategies and filter provenance.",

keywords = "database searching , databases , bibliographic , information services , surveys, librarians , methodological filters ",

author = "Sophie Beale and Steven Duffy and Julie Glanville and Carol Lefebvre and Dianne Wright and Rachael McCool and Danielle Varley and Charles Boachie and Cynthia Fraser and Jenny Harbour and Lynne Smith",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2014 The authors. Health Information and Libraries Journal {\textcopyright} 2014 Health Libraries Group.",

year = "2014",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1111/hir.12062",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

pages = "133--147",

journal = "Health Information & Libraries Journal",

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AU - Beale, Sophie

AU - Duffy, Steven

AU - Glanville, Julie

AU - Lefebvre, Carol

AU - Wright, Dianne

AU - McCool, Rachael

AU - Varley, Danielle

AU - Boachie, Charles

AU - Fraser, Cynthia

AU - Harbour, Jenny

AU - Smith, Lynne

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AB - BACKGROUND: Search filters or hedges are search strategies developed to assist information specialists and librarians to retrieve different types of evidence from bibliographic databases. The objectives of this project were to learn about searchers' filter use, how searchers choose search filters and what information they would like to receive to inform their choices.METHODS: Interviews with information specialists working in, or for, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) were conducted. An online questionnaire survey was also conducted and advertised via a range of email lists.RESULTS: Sixteen interviews were undertaken and 90 completed questionnaires were received. The use of search filters tends to be linked to reducing a large amount of literature, introducing focus and assisting with searches that are based on a single study type. Respondents use numerous ways to identify search filters and can find choosing between different filters problematic because of knowledge gaps and lack of time.CONCLUSIONS: Search filters are used mainly for reducing large result sets (introducing focus) and assisting with searches focused on a single study type. Features that would help with choosing filters include making information about filters less technical, offering ratings and providing more detail about filter validation strategies and filter provenance.

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Choosing and using methodological search filters: searchers' views

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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Cite this