Expert Searching

Suggestions and strategies for starting your research.

Thinking About Your Topic

Getting Started

Gather background information. Search relevant sources to see what's been written about your topic so far.
Consider your audience. Who might be interested in this issue?

Pro Tips

Identify a framework that works for your topic and stick with it. Aim for clarity.
Start documentation to keep all your ideas in one place.
Get input from collaborators, peers, and mentors.
Consult with a librarian so you can complete a thorough search of existing research.

There are many different types of frameworks. The one you choose will depend on the scope of your project and which framework fits best. We have listed just a few of them below.

Research Question Frameworks

CoCoPop

Condition, Context, Population

Aromataris E, Munn Z (Editors). JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI, 2020. Available from https://doi.org/10.46658/JBIMES-20-01

PEO

Population, Exposure of Interest, Outcome or Response

Aromataris E, Munn Z (Editors). JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI, 2020. Available from https://doi.org/10.46658/JBIMES-20-01

PICO

Population or Problem, Intervention or Exposure, Comparison or Control, Outcome

Heneghan, C., & Badenoch, D. (2002). Evidence-based medicine toolkit. London: BMJ Books.

PICOS

Population or Problem, Intervention or Exposure, Comparison or Control, Outcome, Study Type

Methley, A. M., Campbell, S., Chew-Graham, C., McNally, R., & Cheraghi-Sohi, S. (2014). PICO, PICOS and SPIDER: a comparison study of specificity and sensitivity in three search tools for qualitative systematic reviews. BMC health services research, 14, 579. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-014-0579-0

PICOT

Population or Problem, Intervention or Exposure, Comparison or Control, Outcome, Time

Richardson, W. S., Wilson, M. C., Nishikawa, J., & Hayward, R. S. (1995). The well-built clinical question: A key to evidence-based decisions. ACP journal club, 123(3), A12-A12.

PIRD

Population, Index Test, Reference Test, Diagnosis of Interest

Aromataris E, Munn Z (Editors). JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI, 2020. Available from https://doi.org/10.46658/JBIMES-20-01

PEO

Population, Exposure of Interest, Outcome or Response

Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2017). Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer's manual. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Available from https://reviewersmanual.joannabriggs.org/

PICo

Population, Interest, Context

Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2017). Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer's manual. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Available from https://reviewersmanual.joannabriggs.org/

SPIDER

Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research Type

Cooke, A., Smith, D., & Booth, A. (2012). Beyond PICO: the SPIDER tool for qualitative evidence synthesis. Qualitative health research, 22(10), 1435–1443. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732312452938

SPICE

Setting, Perspective, Intervention, Comparison, Evaluation

Cleyle, S., & Booth, A. (2006). Clear and present questions: formulating questions for evidence based practice. Library hi tech. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830610692127

CLIP

Client Group, Location, Improvement or Information or Innovation, Professionals

ECLIPSE

Expectation, Client Group, Location, Impact, Professionals, Service

Wildridge, V., & Bell, L. (2002). How CLIP became ECLIPSE: a mnemonic to assist in searching for health policy/management information. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 19(2), 113-115. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-1842.2002.00378.x

COSMIN

Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments

Mokkink, L. B., Terwee, C. B., Patrick, D. L., Alonso, J., Stratford, P. W., Knol, D. L., Bouter, L. M., & de Vet, H. C. (2010). The COSMIN checklist for assessing the methodological quality of studies on measurement properties of health status measurement instruments: an international Delphi study. Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 19(4), 539–549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9606-8

PCC

Population, Concept, Context

Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2017). Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer's manual. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Available from https://reviewersmanual.joannabriggs.org/

PIPOH

Population, Intervention, Professionals, Outcomes, Healthcare Setting

ADAPTE Collaboration. (2009). The ADAPTE Process: Resource Toolkit for guideline adaptation. Version 2.0. Available from https://www.g-i-n.net