Phrasing in reproducible search methodology: The consequences of straight and curly quotation marks

Abstract

This research investigated the use of quotation marks for the purposes of phrasing in search strategies. Since systematic reviews and meta-analyses require rigor in terms of comprehensive information retrieval as well as transparent reporting, it’s important to be aware of peculiarities of search platforms. As indicated in reporting standards for systematic reviews (e.g., MECCIR), authors are expected to transparently report search strategies. Awareness of how search platforms function is critical since the discovered studies used in the synthesis could have practice and policy implications. Search strategies containing non-alphanumeric or special characters may not retrieve pertinent literature due to a search platform's capacity for handling certain characters. In the present study, the authors tested 40 platforms using quotation characters to investigate platform behavior. This poster contains our research findings and implications for practice. Preprint available: https://doi.org/10.31229/osf.io/pcgj5