Build the query systematically
- Extract two to four core concepts from the RQs.
- List synonyms, abbreviations, spelling variants, and related terms.
- Combine alternatives with OR and concepts with AND.
- Use quotation marks, wildcards, proximity operators, and field codes appropriately.
- Translate the master query into Scopus, WoS, and other selected syntax.
- Pilot the query against known relevant articles and refine it.
Boolean structure
(“systematic review” OR “evidence synthesis”) AND (“artificial intelligence” OR “machine learning”) AND (education OR learning)
Quality check
- All key concepts have documented synonyms.
- The query retrieves known relevant studies.
- Database-specific syntax is correct.
- Every final query is saved exactly as run.