Librarians at the Engineering & Computer Science Library offer one-on-one consultations to help you learn how to search for information for knowledge synthesis (KS) projects, such as systematic reviews and scoping reviews. These sessions focus on teaching you how to search thoroughly—an important skill for any KS project.

To request a consultation, please fill out our online form. We will try to respond within five business days.

While some organizations suggest including a librarian on your research team, our librarians are not available to join research teams at this time.

We can help you with:

Finding guides to start your KS (e.g., Gerstein’s Knowledge Synthesis guide)
Choosing the right databases for your topic
Identifying key ideas and search terms
Building strong search questions
Learning how to search databases (e.g., saving searches, setting alerts, using filters and search syntax)
Finding keyword suggestions
Fixing problems with your searches
Getting full-text articles through interlibrary loan
Using tools to manage your references
Finding studies, including grey literature
Teaching these topics to lab or research groups

If you teach a course and want a librarian to cover these topics in class, please contact engineering.library@utoronto.ca

Knowledge Syntheses Policies

At this time, we will unfortunately not be able to provide the following services during consultations:

Determine whether a synthesis or protocol on a topic already exists
Choose a review methodology for your topic (we can point you to resources that explain the various types of KS, but for methodological guidance you will need to consult your advisor, instructor or Principal Investigator (PI) of the KS)
Advice on writing, reviewing or participating in the preparation or development of a protocol (please consult your advisor, instructor or PI)
Assistance in writing search methods according to PRISMA or other guidelines
Develop or document methodologies or provide advice on methodology standards
Develop and structure searches, develop an exhaustive list of keywords for a key concept, translate a search for other databases, execute searches or export results
We cannot review search strings in detail or advise whether a search is publication ready
Develop and conduct searches in grey literature
Assist in writing or reviewing of manuscripts, including methodology sections and respective appendices
Advice on tools for appraisal, screening, project management or data management (please consult your advisor, instructor or PI)
Advice on estimating timelines or budgets (please consult your advisor, instructor or PI)
Training or troubleshooting of citation management software

Other services at the discretion of librarian based on their expertise and available time

Knowledge Synthesis Support at ECSL

How to access

More information

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