1. Gather relevant studies: You can start by conducting your primary search using electronic databases and other relevant sources. Once you have a collection of potentially relevant studies, prioritize them based on your inclusion criteria.
2. Review reference lists: Focus on the reference lists of the most relevant studies you identified earlier. Pay close attention to studies directly related to your research topic and those published in reputable journals.
3. Identify potentially relevant studies: Could you scan the reference lists for titles, abstracts, and keywords that align with your research question and inclusion criteria? Look for studies that weren't captured in your initial search strategy.
4. Screen and assess: Don't automatically include studies based solely on the reference list. Could you get rid of the full text of the potentially relevant studies and assess them against your pre-determined inclusion criteria? You can apply the same rigorous screening process to the studies identified through your primary search.
5. Manage duplicates: You can use reference management software to identify and remove duplicates encountered during the process efficiently.
