In addition to our in-person/real-time workshops, Gerstein Library also produces self-paced learning modules that you can work through at your own pace. Below is a list of our current offerings.
Check back regularly for new content. Don’t forget to check out our research guides and instructional videos as well for tips and guidance on a variety of topics.
Click on a topic of interest to learn more:
- Grey Literature
- Identifying and Reporting Biases
- Supplementary Search Techniques
- Reporting and Documenting Your Search
- Planning for Your Review
Module: Grey Literature
Many define grey literature by what it is not—essentially, anything that isn't a scholarly journal article may be considered grey literature. For the purposes of knowledge syntheses, this definition mostly works, but this module will delve more deeply into what grey literature is; where to find it; and why to use it.
Learning Objectives
By completing this module, you will be able to:
- Define what grey literature is (and what’s it’s not)
- Recall the reasons why searching for grey literature is important
- Differentiate between the 'types' of grey literature and the 'sources' where we find it
- Identify relevant sources of grey literature
Related Resources
Comprehensive Searching Guide: What is Grey Literature?
Module: Identifying and Reporting Biases
Bias is a term that is used in a variety of contexts across many disciplines. Reporting bias is concerned with the influence of results on the dissemination of research findings. This module outlines various types of reporting biases, including but not limited to: publication bias, time lag bias, language bias, and citation bias.
Learning Objectives
By completing this module, you will be able to:
- Define different types of reporting biases
Module: Supplementary Search Techniques
Manual searching is often your last chance to find studies that your database searches missed. This module covers manual searching and manual search techniques; citation searching; backwards citation searching; and reporting your supplementary searches.
Learning Objectives
By completing this module, you will be able to:
- Define common methods of supplementary searching, namely manual searching and citation searching
- Recall techniques for conducting supplementary searches
Related Resources
Tutorial: Reference Tracking with Scopus
Module: Reporting and Documenting Your Search
Making sure you accurately report your search process is important for the transparency and reproducibility of your work. This module covers how to document your search both from databases and other sources; how to report your search in your written review, and PRISMA-S reporting standards.
Learning Objectives
By completing this module, you will be able to:
- Prepare a search strategy in the proper format to be included in your appendix
- Review reporting and documenting standards, like PRISMA-S
Module: Planning for Your Review
This module prepares you for your knowledge synthesis, covering the development of a research question; determination of review method; determination of whether there is a review on your topic; and the development and registration of your protocol.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, you should be able to:
- Explain the differences between a narrative review and a knowledge synthesis
- Choose a review method that best suits your review goal and timelines
- Develop a clear research question for your review
- Describe the importance of developing a protocol
- Initiate the protocol development process