Evidence Synthesis Consultation and Collaboration
Consultation and Collaboration with Laurier Librarians
Evidence Synthesis is an umbrella term for many types of review articles such as systematic, scoping and rapid reviews. Each of these review types has a specific methodology and set of reporting guidelines that need to be followed to ensure that the results are not biased. Developing a systematic, comprehensive search strategy is at the heart of all evidence synthesis projects and having an experienced librarian develop this search is recommended in many evidence synthesis methodologies (for example The Cochrane Handbook). The Laurier Library has developed this set of guidelines to make clear the types of support and levels of collaboration that we can offer.
Librarian support and collaboration on evidence synthesis projects can be requested at three levels:
- Education,
- Consultation,
- Collaboration & Co-authorship.
To meet with a librarian to discuss support for your evidence synthesis project, please complete the Evidence Synthesis Request form.
Requests for literature search support are subject to librarian availability. Due to the in-depth and time-intensive nature of this work, requests may be put on a waitlist. The librarian will discuss timelines and delivery dates before any work commences.
As projects evolve, the librarian retains the right to change tiers to accurately reflect the nature of the work being conducted, and to refuse co-authorship.
Level 1 - Education
Eligibility
- Students involved in evidence synthesis projects (for their thesis or as an RA on a larger project),
- Faculty who are considering suggesting that their students complete a systematic, scoping or rapid review as part of their coursework,
- Faculty-led research teams completing their first evidence synthesis project.
Description
- Curated resources available on Evidence Synthesis webpage,
- Live online or in-person small group/individual instruction available upon request,
- Self-directed tutorials and videos.
Level 2 - Consultation
Eligibility
- Students involved in evidence synthesis projects (for their thesis or as an RA on a larger project),
Faculty-led research teams.
Description
At their discretion, the librarian may offer up to 10 hours of time on the project to include:
- Set up a meeting to discuss your project and what type of evidence synthesis (if any) is the most appropriate,
- Provide access to resources such as handbooks and checklists for evidence synthesis,
- Recommend databases, and other information sources most relevant to the research question(s),
- Provide training and advice to the person building and running the searches. This can include limited review of the draft search strategy, but the librarian will not develop the search,
- Advise on the use of citation managers (Zotero or Mendeley) and screening software (Covidence),
- Describe the process for obtaining full-text articles either from Laurier or through Interlibrary loan,
- Suggest criteria for choosing where to publish the protocol and/or the final article.
The lead researcher will:
- Provide a copy of the protocol,
- Provide references for 5-10 exemplar articles,
- Discuss inclusion of the librarian in the acknowledgment section of the final manuscript with the librarian. This will include ensuring correct attribution, credentials, and titles. See an example.
Level 3 - Collaboration & Co-authorship
Eligibility
- Principal investigators on evidence synthesis projects,
- The Evidence Synthesis Request Form must be submitted before a meeting can be scheduled,
- Submitting a request for collaboration does not guarantee that it will be given, as librarians may use their own discretion in joining research teams.
Description
Librarian Responsibilities
If a librarian agrees to join your team as a co-author, their precise contributions will be finalised during discussions between them and the rest of the research team. These contributions can include:
- Attend team meetings and provide relevant expertise,
- Assist with research question refinement,
- Contribute to protocol development including refining inclusion/exclusion criteria,
- Work iteratively with the research team to develop a search strategy,
- Translate the search strategy as needed for all selected databases,
- Arrange for Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies (PRESS),
- Advise the team on grey literature searching,
- Assist with the export of search results,
- Document search methodology, export search histories, and provide search details as recommended by PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-S,
- Write the source and search methodology sections of protocols and final manuscripts; provide search details for the appendix,
- Review and approve submitted manuscripts,
- Respond to peer-reviewer feedback especially if related to the search strategy or methodology.
Principal Investigator Responsibilities
- As a full member of the research team, ensure the librarian is included in all communication and correspondence,
- Follow the COPE Guidelines on authorship and include the librarian as a co-author on the manuscript,
- Share the finished manuscript with the librarian for review and approval before submitting it for publication.
To advance our goal of ensuring equity, diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility for disabled researchers and librarians who are involved in evidence synthesis work, we aim to be transparent about expectations and responsibilities, be flexible in our practices, proactively identify and report equity issues, and align our efforts with other library groups within and beyond Laurier.