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Systematic literature searching

A guide to the search process for a systematic literature search

Managing your references

It is worth investing time in learning to use reference management software.  You can collect references from a wide variety of sources and keep them in one place. 

  • Download references from databases or catalogues 
  • Add references manually
  • Insert references in your writing formatted in your chosen style (e.g. Harvard, APA 6th, Chicago) 
  • Reformat references if your change style e.g. to submit to a journal 
  • Annotate your references and attach the full text of articles to the records.

Reference management software

There are many different reference managers available. Lancaster University provides access to recent versions of:

De-duplication of references

It is recommended that you conduct your searches in individual databases and bring all of the results into EndNote or other software to de-duplicate. 

Before you de-duplicate:

  • Back up your EndNote Library
  • Record the total number of results in your EndNote Library from all of your searches

To de-duplicate:

  • EndNote offers an automated de-duplication under the References menu
  • You may wish to use a multi-stage de-duplication process in EndNote, especially in you have a large number of results.
  • Try this Deduplication in EndNote approach devised by Wichor Bramar at Erasmus MC.

After de-duplication:

  • Record the number of references removed and now remaining in your EndNote library

Endnote Training videos

The Library provide guides to using EndNote and EndNote online, and you can book onto workshops using the links at the bottom of this page.

 Alternatively, the videos below can help get you started with Endnote.

Training and development workshops

Upcoming training sessions on Reference management software. 

Review software

software graphic The University does not currently supply access to reviewing software such as:

  • Covidence
  • RevMan
  • DistillrSR
  • EPPI-Reviewer

You might find free software Rayyan useful.

At the moment individuals and research teams are responsible for paying to access these.

Cochrane authors can access a suite of tools and software for free.  

We are gathering evidence for institutional access to Covidence. If you would find this software useful, please register your interest.