Finally, after all this preparation it is now time to run your search! A well developed search plan should provide all the information to make this process as efficient as possible. But what does this actually look like in practice?
After running your search, your goals are to:
Document your search plan and search results
Conduct deduplication
Set alerts
Choose a citation manager and establish a standardized method of file management
Time Management Tips
It is ideal if your database searches are completed within a short time period (i.e. 1-3 days). This will ensure consistency in your results across databases and in your reporting.
Although the search process may seem straightforward, ensure that you give yourself enough time to allow for potential hiccups. This could include issues such as the time consuming nature of exporting a large number of reference
Note: You may have to re-run your database searches in the future, which is why it is recommended you save your searches (see Saving Searches in Step 3: How to Make a Search Strategy)