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  • 14 - Conclusion: where do we go from here?

    • By Paul Levay, Information Specialist at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK., Jenny Craven, Information Specialist at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK.
  • Edited by Paul Levay, Jenny Craven
  • Book:
    Systematic Searching
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2019
    Print publication:
    30 November 2018, pp 289-292

  • Summary

    Methods, technology and people

    The first part of this book described the developments that are taking place in the methods of systematic searching. The methods have been applied in many subject areas beyond evidence-based medicine. Chapter 2 considered qualitative evidence, realist reviews and mixed methods, while Chapter 5 covered the value of unpublished data and grey literature. Chapter 3 set out some of the techniques that have been applied in broad-based topics, such as in the social sciences, Chapter 4 showed how to choose sources across a range of disciplines and Chapter 6 highlighted the potential to use social media in a range of topics.

    Methods have been established in topic areas beyond the scope of this book. One productive area has been environmental management, where techniques and sources are being tested, discussed and applied. There is guidance on doing an ecological synthesis (Bayliss and Beyer, 2015) and systematic searching for environmental evidence (Livoreil et al., 2017) that has assessed the role of grey literature (Haddaway and Bayliss, 2015). There have been similar efforts in the topic area of food and feed safety to understand the types of evidence required (European Food and Safety Authority, 2010) and how it might be systematically identified (Wood et al., 2018). The challenge is to continue developing methods in new directions that are appropriate to the subject and types of evidence that it generates. Information specialists will need to both stay up to date with innovations in evidence synthesis and lead the response in terms of adapting information retrieval practice.

    New processes and systems are being built to exploit the full potential of technology. The text mining tools described in Chapter 7 highlighted that it may not be feasible to maintain a clear demarcation between the search and screening process as the information specialist may need to work with results sorted by algorithms, use relevance ranking or help to decide which cut-off points to use. Chapter 8 showed that we may no longer need to think of systematic reviews in terms of whole documents and that it may be fruitful to consider the evidence in more granular terms. Chapter 9 has shown how automation is revolutionising the way evidence is identified across whole subject areas and can be integrated efficiently into reviews using classification systems.

  • 1 - Introduction: where are we now?

    • By Paul Levay, Information Specialist at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK., Jenny Craven, Information Specialist at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK.
  • Edited by Paul Levay, Jenny Craven
  • Book:
    Systematic Searching
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2019
    Print publication:
    30 November 2018, pp 1-24

  • Summary

    What is systematic searching?

    Systematic searching is one of the fundamental building blocks to using evidence in a rigorous way to make decisions on policy and practice. The search is a key component of a systematic review. A review cannot be systematic if it is based on evidence that has been identified through a partial, unsound or incomplete search. We must first discuss what a systematic review is and why the search is so important. This book covers searching for a wide range of topics in the social sciences, however systematic reviewing grew out of the evidence-based medicine movement so let us start there for a definition:

    A review of a clearly formulated question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyse data from the studies that are included in the review. Statistical methods may or may not be used to analyse and summarise the results of the included studies.

    (Cochrane, 2018)

    Evidence-based medicine has been recognised since Archie Cochrane's book Effectiveness and Efficiency: random reflections of health services. Cochrane warned ‘how dangerous it is to assume that well-established therapies which have not been tested are always effective’ (Cochrane, 1972, 29). By the 1990s, the movement was well established in terms of methods, organizations and education (Sackett et al., 1996). Evidence-based medicine meant that decisions would not depend on a doctor trying to read every single study that might be published, they would not be limited to the evidence that a pharmaceutical company or prominent clinician were keen to promote, and they would take into account the often competing or contradictory conclusions from different studies.

    The purpose was to develop a set of methods that would provide unbiased ways of comparing one medical treatment to another. It was important to gather evidence on treatments in a systematic fashion so that patients would have the most appropriate care and would not be harmed by the decisions affecting them. A complex set of methods has subsequently been developed to account for sources of bias and to return trustworthy results that show the findings from synthesising the results of multiple studies. As the Cochrane definition shows, this process has to be systematic and explicit.

Systematic Searching
  • Edited by Paul Levay, Jenny Craven
  • Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2019
    Print publication:
    30 November 2018
  • In resource poor, cost saving times, this book advises information professionals on how to search more efficiently.The book brings together expert international practitioners and researchers to highlight the latest thinking on systematic searching. Beginning by looking at the role of the information specialist as an expert searcher, the book then examines the current challenges and the potential solutions to more effective searching in detail. Systematic Searching blends theory and practice and takes into account several different approaches to information retrieval and information-seeking behaviour with special focus being given to searching for complex topics in a health-related environment. The book does not presume an in-depth prior knowledge or experience of systematic searching and includes case studies, practical examples and ideas for further research and reading to ensure the book is accessible to all.The book is divided into three parts:Part 1: Methods covers theoretical models of information seeking and also systematic searching practice, including search filters and controlled vocabulariesPart 2: Technology covers new technologies for retrieving evidence such as social media and the semantic web, as well as using text mining to support the development of search strategiesPart 3: People considers the future of the information specialist as an expert searcher and explores how information professionals could develop their skills and find new roles.The book will be essential reading for library and information service providers and information specialists, particularly those in a health-related environment. It will also be of interest to students of library and information science, practitioners conducting complex searches in settings including social care, education and criminal justice, systematic reviewers and researchers.

  • 9 - Data analysis

  • from PART 2 - DOING RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND AUDIT
    • By Jenny Craven, Information Specialist, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, UK, Jillian R. Griffiths, Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
  • Edited by Maria J. Grant, Sen Barbara, Hannah Spring
  • Book:
    Research, Evaluation and Audit
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    31 October 2013, pp 145-176

  • Summary

    ‘What is data analysis? In fact, what is data?’

    ‘Statistics are just plain scary!’

    ‘Can't I get someone else to do this bit?’

    What is data analysis?

    Data analysis is a vital step in the research process. Whatever method has been applied to data collection, at some point it will be necessary to translate raw data into usable information. Analysis is usually undertaken after all the data have been gathered, but it may also be undertaken during the collection period or as part of a pilot study to ensure the most appropriate method of collection is selected. Whichever approach is undertaken, it is important to remember that without data, no analysis can take place, and that the quality of your analysis will depend, to a great extent, on the quality of your data. As Robson puts it: ‘No data – no project’ (Robson, 2002, 385).

    What comes before?

    Before data analysis can commence it will be necessary to go through a number of stages. These have been discussed in earlier chapters, but in summary, before the analysis stage, you should have undertaken the following activities:

  • • identifying research problems

  • • searching the existing literature base

  • • critical appraisal of the literature

  • • developing the questions and/or hypothesis

  • • applying a theoretical base

  • • sampling strategies

  • • data collection techniques.

    • You should now be ready to start analysing your data.

    Types of analysis: quantitative and qualitative

    There are a variety of approaches to conducting research (see Chapter 1) but in general research tends to use an inductive or deductive approach.

    An inductive approach seeks to build up a theory that is adequately grounded in a number of relevant cases and involves comparing concepts or categories emerging from one stage of the data analysis with concepts emerging from the next stage. These comparisons form the basis of the emerging theory. The researcher continues with this process of comparison until no new significant categories or concepts can be identified (see Lacey and Duff, 2001, 7; Robson, 2002; Strauss and Corbin, 1998).

  • 5 - Library services for visually impaired people: a UK perspective

  • from Theme 2 - Widening access to information
    • By Jenny Craven, Research Associate, Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CERLIM), Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
  • Edited by Jillian R. Griffiths, Jenny Craven
  • Book:
    Access, Delivery, Performance
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    20 November 2008, pp 57-74

  • Summary

    Introduction

    As Head of the Library and Learning Resource Service (LLRS) during the 1990s at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK, Peter Brophy was involved in developing the delivery of services for students with disabilities offered within the LLRS through the Specialised Learning Resource Unit (SLRU). The work of the SLRU continues to offer a range of specialist services to provide students with disabilities the opportunity to access the same library resources as everyone else, the aim being to promote ‘an accessible and inclusive university’ (www.uclan.ac. uk/slru/mission.html). It is interesting to note that the SLRU was developed before existing disability legislation had come into force, thus showing a commitment to social inclusion driven by moral beliefs rather than legal requirements. This belief in the importance of social inclusion is evident throughout Peter Brophy's career, not least in the significant contribution he has made to improving library and information services for people with visual impairments.

    As Director of the Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CERLIM), research projects he has led such as Resources for Visually Impaired Users of the Electronic Library (REVIEL) (www.cerlim.ac.uk/projects/reviel/index.php), Non-Visual Access to the Digital Library (NoVA) (www.cerlim.ac.uk/projects/nova/index.php) and more recently the European Internet Accessibility Observatory (EIAO) (www.cerlim.ac.uk/ projects/eiao/index.php) are good examples of how research has fed into good practice and advice in this field.

    This chapter will start with a brief look at the general provision of library services for visually impaired people, primarily in the UK but with reference to other countries and then to a more global perspective, and then look more specifically at developments in the provision of electronic access to the digital library, with a particular focus on access by visually impaired people.

    A note on terminology: the term ‘visually impaired person’ is used in this chapter to refer to someone with a serious sight problem. This could include total blindness, partial sight or low vision, as well as cognitive impairments such as dyslexia, which may result in a print impairment.

Access, Delivery, Performance
  • The Future of Libraries without Walls
  • Edited by Jillian R. Griffiths, Jenny Craven
  • Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    20 November 2008
  • This book celebrates and acknowledges the contribution Professor Peter Brophy has made over a career spanning 37 years to the field of library and information studies. Whilst reflecting on his work, it is forward looking and challenging, and offers strategies for the future direction of library and information services in the virtual era. Following an introduction and tribute to Peter on his retirement, the text is contributed by an international team of acknowledged leaders in their fields, and focuses on four key themes that have preoccupied Peter during his career and that remain of pre-eminent importance for the future of the profession: libraries, learning and distance learning; widening access to information; changing directions of information delivery; and, performance, quality and leadership. The book concludes with a comprehensive bibliography of Peter's work. This timely book addresses issues and concerns transferable across different areas of the information sector, including academic, public and special libraries, and will be stimulating reading for anyone working, studying, or teaching within the profession.

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