43-wentorai-research-plugins-skills-literature-search-deep-literature-search

brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-SkillsResearchAudit pendingSnapshot e5af4c3639c4

Summary

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SKILL.md

Deep Literature Search

Overview

A deep literature search goes beyond a quick Google Scholar query. It is a methodical, multi-source search process designed to identify all relevant publications on a topic with minimal omissions. This level of thoroughness is required for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, grant applications, and dissertation literature reviews where comprehensiveness is not optional—it is a methodological requirement.

This skill provides a structured framework for planning, executing, and documenting exhaustive literature searches across multiple academic databases. It covers query formulation using controlled vocabularies, database selection strategy, deduplication, screening workflows, and PRISMA-compliant documentation of the search process.

The framework is database-agnostic and can be applied across disciplines, from biomedical sciences (PubMed, Cochrane) to social sciences (PsycINFO, ERIC), engineering (IEEE Xplore, Compendex), and multidisciplinary databases (Web of Science, Scopus, OpenAlex).

Search Strategy Design

Step 1: Define the Research Question

Use the PICO/PEO/SPIDER framework appropriate to your field:

PICO (clinical/biomedical): Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
PEO (qualitative): Population, Exposure, Outcome
SPIDER (mixed methods): Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research type

Example: "What is the effect of mindfulness-based interventions (I) on academic stress (O) in graduate students (P) compared to no intervention (C)?"

Step 2: Identify Key Concepts and Synonyms

Break your research question into 2-4 key concepts. For each concept, list all synonyms, related terms, abbreviations, and controlled vocabulary terms:

Concept	Synonyms and Related Terms
Mindfulness	mindfulness-based stress reduction, MBSR, meditation, mindful awareness

("mindfulness" OR "MBSR" OR "mindfulness-based stress reduction" OR "meditation")
AND
("academic stress" OR "study stress" OR "exam anxiety" OR "academic burnout")
AND
("graduate student*" OR "postgraduate*" OR "doctoral student*" OR "PhD candidate*")

Discipline	Primary Databases	Supplementary
Biomedical	PubMed, Cochrane, Embase	CINAHL, PsycINFO
Computer Science	IEEE Xplore, ACM DL, DBLP	Scopus, arXiv
Social Sciences	PsycINFO, ERIC, Sociological Abstracts	Web of Science
Engineering	Compendex, IEEE Xplore	Scopus, Web of Science
Multidisciplinary	Web of Science, Scopus, OpenAlex	Google Scholar (supplementary)

Records identified (N = ?)
  ├── Database 1 (n = ?)
  ├── Database 2 (n = ?)
  └── Other sources (n = ?)
Duplicates removed (n = ?)
Records screened (n = ?)
Records excluded (n = ?)
Full-text assessed (n = ?)
Full-text excluded with reasons (n = ?)
Studies included (n = ?)

43-wentorai-research-plugins-skills-literature-search-deep-literature-search

Summary

SKILL.md

Deep Literature Search

Overview

Search Strategy Design

Step 1: Define the Research Question

Step 2: Identify Key Concepts and Synonyms

Step 3: Build the Search String

Step 4: Adapt for Each Database

Multi-Database Execution

Recommended Database Selection by Discipline

Execution Checklist

Grey Literature and Supplementary Sources

Deduplication and Screening

Deduplication Process

Screening Workflow

PRISMA Documentation

References

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