"Systematically searching the literature ensures that you identify relevant studies for your review question. The breadth and type of approach you take will depend on the type and topic area of your review" (Booth et al., 2022, p. 153).
Searching for a review article needs to find a balance between finding all available evidence within the review limits (sensitivity), and reducing the number of irrelevant results (specificity). This can depend on the review type. For example, systematic reviews tend to be highly sensitive, retrieving every possible study to reduce the risk of bias and ensure reliable results.
JBI recommends a three step process when searching the literature for a scoping review in order to be as comprehensive as possible. This process may be adapted for systematic reviews, depending on the purpose and sources required. For scoping reviews, it is acceptable to adapt and alter the search as needed, while for systematic reviews the search is only conducted once, after testing and refining.
For support with your search, please make an appointment with a librarian.
(Peters et al., 2020, s. 11.2.5)