This Libguide provides a starting point on identifying quantitative evidence using health-related databases.
“Quantitative research deals with data that are numerical or that can be converted into numbers" (Judithe Sheard, 2018).
You should consider incorporating the following to aid in identifying the quantitative evidence:
The nature of your research question may require you to search outside of the health databases (e.g. BIOSIS Previews, clinicaltrials.gov).
You could use pre-tested strategies, know as filters, to identify the quantitative evidence that is findable in the major biomedical databases. Filters exist for most types of experimental designs. They may be comprised of controlled vocabulary and keywords relating to study type, as well as the methodological description of an experimental design. Please consult the search filter tab below for more information.
This is not an exhaustive list of controlled vocabulary or keywords. This is intended to help you get started.
MeSH (i.e. Controlled Vocabulary) |
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Study Clinical Trial as Topic Meta-Analysis Statistics as Topic Probability Data Collection "Surveys and Questionnaires" Data Analysis
|
Keywords |
Randomi* control* trial* RCT* Clinical Trial* Survey* Questionnaire* Quasi-experiment* Quasiexperiment*
|
This is not an exhaustive list of controlled vocabulary or keywords. This is intended to help you get started.
Controlled Vocabulary |
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Study "Clinical Trial (topic)" Meta Analysis Statistics Probability Data Collection Method Questionnaire Types of Study Quasi Experimental Study |
Keywords |
Randomi* control* trial* RCT* Clinical Trial* Survey* Questionnaire* Quasi-experiment* Quasiexperiment* |
This is not an exhaustive list of controlled vocabulary or keywords. This is intended to help you get started.
Controlled Vocabulary |
Randomized Controlled Trial Quantitative Studies Clinical Trials Meta Analysis Statistics Probability Surveys Data Analysis, Statistical |
Kewords |
Randomi* control* trial* RCT* Clinical Trial* Survey* Questionnaire* Quasi-experiment* Quasiexperiment* |
This is not an exhaustive list of keywords. This is intended to help you get started.
Keywords |
Randomi* control* trial* RCT* Clinical Trial* Survey* Questionnaire* Quasi-experiment* Quasiexperiment* |
Consider the following when selecting a search filter:
Below are a few institutions that have developed search filters. This is not an exhaustive list:
When using controlled vocabulary (i.e. Subject Headings, e.g. MeSH, EMTREE) look at the scope note to identify whether the scope is too broad or narrow (e.g. Statistics as Topic) for your project. The scope note will provide searching insight:
McMaster University
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HSC 2B
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada L8S 4K1