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Assessment of search strategies in literature-review-based candidate theses within a nursing program

Herrström, Kerstin ; Larsson, Stina ; Einberg, Eva Lena ; Nilsson, Marie LU ; Blomqvist, Kerstin LU and Garmy, Pernilla LU orcid (2020) In Advances in Medical Education and Practice 11. p.71-77
Abstract

Background: The majority of candidate theses in baccalaureate nursing programs in Sweden are written as literature studies. Being able to carry out a systematic and structured literature search is an essential part of thesis-related work. Aim: The aim of the current study was to investigate changes in nursing students’ search strategies in candidate theses. Methods: A retrospective, quantitative study design was obtained. Librarians (n = 2) and teachers (n = 4) randomly examined selected candidate theses (every third thesis, n = 89) from the years 2012, 2014, and 2016. Results: The result showed a significant improvement over the years (from 2012 and 2014 to 2016) regarding the use of a sufficient number of synonyms, matching search... (More)

Background: The majority of candidate theses in baccalaureate nursing programs in Sweden are written as literature studies. Being able to carry out a systematic and structured literature search is an essential part of thesis-related work. Aim: The aim of the current study was to investigate changes in nursing students’ search strategies in candidate theses. Methods: A retrospective, quantitative study design was obtained. Librarians (n = 2) and teachers (n = 4) randomly examined selected candidate theses (every third thesis, n = 89) from the years 2012, 2014, and 2016. Results: The result showed a significant improvement over the years (from 2012 and 2014 to 2016) regarding the use of a sufficient number of synonyms, matching search terms to the respective database, use of the Boolean operator OR, and the use of subject headings and free text searches. Use of the title/abstract search largely disappeared. There was a significant change in the types of searches being done. The searches have become more structured in later years as the use of block searches increased significantly; in other words, more systematic and relevant searches have been done in recent years. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that the quality of the students’ search strategies improved significantly during the studied years. It is recommended that search documents are used in both formative and summative assessments to evaluate students’ search strategies. Educational development in the form of enhanced collaboration between librarians and teachers in nursing programs is recommended because it might help to develop student search strategies in literature-based candidate theses.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Information literacy, Information retrieval, Library instruction, Literature-review-based candidate thesis, Nurse education, Nursing program, Search strategies
in
Advances in Medical Education and Practice
volume
11
pages
7 pages
publisher
Dove Medical Press Ltd.
external identifiers
  • pmid:32021546
  • scopus:85097731229
ISSN
1179-7258
DOI
10.2147/AMEP.S227547
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b80268fb-3599-4b42-a89a-714ce7f63530
date added to LUP
2021-01-11 11:37:56
date last changed
2024-05-31 06:58:05
@article{b80268fb-3599-4b42-a89a-714ce7f63530,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: The majority of candidate theses in baccalaureate nursing programs in Sweden are written as literature studies. Being able to carry out a systematic and structured literature search is an essential part of thesis-related work. Aim: The aim of the current study was to investigate changes in nursing students’ search strategies in candidate theses. Methods: A retrospective, quantitative study design was obtained. Librarians (n = 2) and teachers (n = 4) randomly examined selected candidate theses (every third thesis, n = 89) from the years 2012, 2014, and 2016. Results: The result showed a significant improvement over the years (from 2012 and 2014 to 2016) regarding the use of a sufficient number of synonyms, matching search terms to the respective database, use of the Boolean operator OR, and the use of subject headings and free text searches. Use of the title/abstract search largely disappeared. There was a significant change in the types of searches being done. The searches have become more structured in later years as the use of block searches increased significantly; in other words, more systematic and relevant searches have been done in recent years. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that the quality of the students’ search strategies improved significantly during the studied years. It is recommended that search documents are used in both formative and summative assessments to evaluate students’ search strategies. Educational development in the form of enhanced collaboration between librarians and teachers in nursing programs is recommended because it might help to develop student search strategies in literature-based candidate theses.</p>}},
  author       = {{Herrström, Kerstin and Larsson, Stina and Einberg, Eva Lena and Nilsson, Marie and Blomqvist, Kerstin and Garmy, Pernilla}},
  issn         = {{1179-7258}},
  keywords     = {{Information literacy; Information retrieval; Library instruction; Literature-review-based candidate thesis; Nurse education; Nursing program; Search strategies}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{71--77}},
  publisher    = {{Dove Medical Press Ltd.}},
  series       = {{Advances in Medical Education and Practice}},
  title        = {{Assessment of search strategies in literature-review-based candidate theses within a nursing program}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S227547}},
  doi          = {{10.2147/AMEP.S227547}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}