Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39664105›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in research metrics and analytics2024

Evaluating the adoption of handsearching, citation chasing, and screening tools in education research: a survey study.

Qiyang Zhang, Marta Pellegrini, Francesco Marsili, Amanda Neitzel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in research metrics and analytics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Qiyang ZhangJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Marta PellegriniDepartment of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Francesco MarsiliDepartment of Philosophy, Social and Human Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, Umbria, Italy.
Amanda NeitzelSchool of Education, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The rapid development of software tools to assist systematic reviewers has led to varying degrees of adoption and selection among researchers. However, the actual usage patterns of these tools, their preferred features, and the criteria for selecting the most suitable tools remain unclear. Methods: To understand these aspects, we collected 175 responses from researchers across different continents. Results: In terms of handsearching, despite new tools developed, our findings reveal that manual handsearching remains prevalent among more than half of the participants. Databases are the most popular tools for citation searching, followed by citation management tools and spreadsheets. This reliance on citation management tools and spreadsheets is concerning as they are not specifically designed for systematic reviews. The primary factors influencing tool selection are the research environment and ease of use. Barriers stopping researchers from adopting alternative tools include limited awareness, challenges in learning new tools, and the financial costs associated with acquiring licenses. Moreover, researchers located in Europe show greater familiarity with a wider range of tools compared to their North American counterparts. Discussion: This preregistered study contributes valuable insights into the tool usage patterns of education researchers, emphasizing the importance of promoting awareness and facilitating the broader adoption of existing tools.

Indexed as

citation searching toolseducationhandsearching toolsmeta-analysisscreening toolssurveysystematic reviews

Identifiers

PMID39664105
PMCPMC11632621

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.