Systematic Reviews: Citation Searching

This guide provides information and resources which may be helpful when undertaking a systematic review or other type of knowledge synthesis.

Citation Searching

"Document Search" icon by kiddo from the Noun Project.

“Citation searching uses the citation network surrounding a source study to identify similar studies. A citation network consists of the studies that are cited by a source study (ie, the reference list) and the studies that cite a source study. Citation searching in the context of a systematic review usually starts with one or more studies that meet, or that have similar content to, the inclusion criteria.”1

Tools:

References & Recommended Reading

1.   Briscoe S, Bethel A, Rogers M. Conduct and reporting of citation searching in Cochrane systematic reviews: A cross-sectional study. Research synthesis methods. 2020;11(2):169-180.

2.  Haddaway, N. R., Grainger, M. J., & Gray, C. T. (2022). Citationchaser: A tool for transparent and efficient forward and backward citation chasing in systematic searching. Research synthesis methods, 13(4), 533–545. 

3.  Hirt J., Nordhausen T., Fuerst T., Ewald H., TARCis study group, Appenzeller-Herzog C. (2023). The TARCiS statement: Guidance on terminology, application, and reporting of citation searching.  medRxiv.  https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.25.23297543