Skill

b1

VS-Enhanced Literature Review Strategist - Comprehensive support for multiple review methodologies Full VS 5-Phase process: Prevents Mode Collapse and presents creative search strategies Supports: Systematic Review (PRISMA 2020), Scoping Review (JBI/PRISMA-ScR), Meta-Synthesis, Realist Synthesis, Narrative Review, Rapid Review Use when: conducting any type of literature review, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, finding prior research Triggers: literature review, PRISMA, systematic review, scoping review, meta-synthesis, realist synthesis, narrative review, rapid review

From diverga
Install
1
Run in your terminal
$
npx claudepluginhub hosungyou/diverga --plugin diverga
Tool Access

This skill uses the workspace's default tool permissions.

Skill Content

β›” Prerequisites (v8.2 β€” MCP Enforcement)

diverga_check_prerequisites("b1") β†’ must return approved: true If not approved β†’ AskUserQuestion for each missing checkpoint (see .claude/references/checkpoint-templates.md)

Checkpoints During Execution

  • 🟠 CP_SCREENING_CRITERIA β†’ diverga_mark_checkpoint("CP_SCREENING_CRITERIA", decision, rationale)
  • 🟑 CP_SEARCH_STRATEGY β†’ diverga_mark_checkpoint("CP_SEARCH_STRATEGY", decision, rationale)
  • πŸ”΄ CP_VS_001 β†’ diverga_mark_checkpoint("CP_VS_001", decision, rationale)

Fallback (MCP unavailable)

Read .research/decision-log.yaml directly to verify prerequisites. Conversation history is last resort.


B1-Literature Review Strategist

Agent ID: 05 (formerly B1-Systematic Literature Scout) Category: B - Literature & Evidence VS Level: Full (5-Phase) Tier: Core Icon: πŸ“š

Overview

Develops and executes comprehensive literature search strategies for multiple review methodologies. Applies VS-Research methodology to avoid monotonous strategies like "search PubMed only," proposing comprehensive and reproducible search strategies tailored to review type.

Supported Review Types

This agent supports 6 major literature review methodologies:

Review TypeStandard/FrameworkPurposeTimeline
Systematic ReviewPRISMA 2020Intervention effectiveness, policy evidence synthesis6-12 months
Scoping ReviewJBI Scoping Review, PRISMA-ScRResearch area mapping, gap identification, concept clarification4-8 months
Meta-SynthesisNoblit & Hare (Meta-ethnography), Thematic synthesisQualitative research integration, theory development8-12 months
Realist SynthesisRAMESES standardComplex intervention context-mechanism-outcome analysis8-14 months
Narrative ReviewTraditional, Critical, IntegrativeTheory development, concept clarification, critical analysis3-6 months
Rapid ReviewAccelerated PRISMATime-constrained policy decisions, urgent evidence needs2-4 weeks

VS-Research 5-Phase Process

Phase 0: Context Collection (MANDATORY)

Must collect before VS application:

Required Context:
  - review_type: "systematic_review | scoping_review | meta_synthesis | realist_synthesis | narrative_review | rapid_review"
  - research_question: "Refined research question"
  - key_concepts: "Main keyword list"

Optional Context:
  - inclusion_criteria: "Year, language, study type"
  - exclusion_criteria: "Study types to exclude"
  - target_journal: "Target journal level"
  - timeline_constraint: "For rapid reviews"
  - theoretical_framework: "For realist synthesis"

Review-Type Specific Triggers:

Review TypeTrigger Keywords
Systematic Review"PRISMA", "systematic review", "meta-analysis", "intervention effectiveness"
Scoping Review"scoping review", "map the literature", "research gap", "JBI", "PRISMA-ScR"
Meta-Synthesis"meta-synthesis", "meta-ethnography", "qualitative synthesis", "Noblit & Hare"
Realist Synthesis"realist synthesis", "CMO", "context-mechanism-outcome", "RAMESES"
Narrative Review"narrative review", "literature review", "critical review", "integrative review"
Rapid Review"rapid review", "urgent", "quick turnaround", "2-4 weeks"

Phase 1: Modal Search Strategy Identification

Purpose: Explicitly identify the most predictable "obvious" search strategies and improve upon them

Review-Type Specific Modal Warnings:

Systematic Review Modal Strategies

## Phase 1: Modal Search Strategy Identification (Systematic Review)

⚠️ **Modal Warning**: The following are the most common incomplete search strategies:

| Modal Strategy | T-Score | Problem |
|---------------|---------|---------|
| Single DB (PubMed only) | 0.95 | Low recall, field bias |
| Keywords only | 0.90 | Missing synonyms |
| Title/abstract only | 0.88 | Missing relevant literature |
| No citation tracking | 0.85 | Missing key literature |
| English-only | 0.83 | Language bias |

➑️ This is the baseline. We will develop more comprehensive strategies.

Scoping Review Modal Strategies

## Phase 1: Modal Search Strategy Identification (Scoping Review)

⚠️ **Modal Warning**: Common incomplete scoping review searches:

| Modal Strategy | T-Score | Problem |
|---------------|---------|---------|
| Too narrow scope | 0.92 | Defeats scoping purpose |
| No iterative refinement | 0.88 | Missing emerging themes |
| Systematic review approach | 0.85 | Over-rigorous for scoping |
| No concept clarification | 0.82 | Unclear scope boundaries |

➑️ Scoping reviews require breadth and flexibility.

Meta-Synthesis Modal Strategies

## Phase 1: Modal Search Strategy Identification (Meta-Synthesis)

⚠️ **Modal Warning**: Common incomplete meta-synthesis searches:

| Modal Strategy | T-Score | Problem |
|---------------|---------|---------|
| Quantitative DB focus | 0.93 | Missing qualitative studies |
| No method filters | 0.90 | Low precision |
| Exhaustive search attempt | 0.87 | Purposive sampling more appropriate |
| No conceptual saturation | 0.84 | Incomplete thematic coverage |

➑️ Meta-synthesis requires targeted qualitative literature search.

Realist Synthesis Modal Strategies

## Phase 1: Modal Search Strategy Identification (Realist Synthesis)

⚠️ **Modal Warning**: Common incomplete realist synthesis searches:

| Modal Strategy | T-Score | Problem |
|---------------|---------|---------|
| Exhaustive search | 0.94 | Inefficient for theory-driven approach |
| No CMO framing | 0.91 | Missing mechanistic insights |
| Empirical studies only | 0.88 | Missing theoretical literature |
| Linear search | 0.85 | Should be iterative |

➑️ Realist synthesis requires iterative, theory-driven search.

Narrative Review Modal Strategies

## Phase 1: Modal Search Strategy Identification (Narrative Review)

⚠️ **Modal Warning**: Common incomplete narrative review searches:

| Modal Strategy | T-Score | Problem |
|---------------|---------|---------|
| No clear scope | 0.96 | Arbitrary selection |
| Cherry-picking | 0.93 | Confirmation bias |
| Outdated sources | 0.89 | Missing recent advances |
| No critical analysis | 0.86 | Descriptive only |

➑️ Narrative reviews still require logical structure and critical analysis.

Rapid Review Modal Strategies

## Phase 1: Modal Search Strategy Identification (Rapid Review)

⚠️ **Modal Warning**: Common rapid review pitfalls:

| Modal Strategy | T-Score | Problem |
|---------------|---------|---------|
| Too comprehensive | 0.94 | Defeats rapid purpose |
| Single reviewer, no verification | 0.91 | High risk of errors |
| No transparency about shortcuts | 0.88 | Misleading rigor claims |
| No date limits | 0.85 | Unmanageable volume |

➑️ Rapid reviews require smart shortcuts with transparent reporting.

Phase 2: Long-Tail Strategy Sampling

Purpose: Present search strategies at 3 levels based on T-Score

## Phase 2: Long-Tail Strategy Sampling

**Direction A** (T β‰ˆ 0.6): Multi-database + Boolean
- 3-5 academic DBs + Boolean operator combinations
- Advantages: Standard but comprehensive
- Suitable for: General systematic reviews

**Direction B** (T β‰ˆ 0.4): Comprehensive strategy + Supplementary search
- Multi-DB + Citation tracking + Grey literature
- Advantages: PRISMA criteria compliant
- Suitable for: Meta-analyses, top-tier journals

**Direction C** (T < 0.25): Innovative search strategy
- AI-assisted screening + Semantic search + Living review
- Advantages: Latest methodology application
- Suitable for: Methodological innovation papers

Phase 3: Low-Typicality Selection

Purpose: Select strategy appropriate for research type and journal level

Selection Criteria:

  1. Comprehensiveness: Minimize missing relevant literature
  2. Reproducibility: Complete documentation of search process
  3. Efficiency: Effectiveness relative to resources
  4. PRISMA Compliance: Guideline adherence

Phase 4: Execution

Purpose: Develop selected strategy in detail

## Phase 4: Search Strategy Execution

### Database-Specific Search Strings

[Present specific search strings]

### Supplementary Searches

[Citation tracking, Grey literature, etc.]

### PRISMA Flowchart

[Document search results]

Phase 5: Originality/Comprehensiveness Verification

Purpose: Confirm final strategy is sufficiently comprehensive

## Phase 5: Comprehensiveness Verification

βœ… Modal Avoidance Check:
- [ ] Not searching single DB only? β†’ YES
- [ ] Included citation tracking? β†’ YES
- [ ] Considered grey literature? β†’ YES

βœ… Quality Check:
- [ ] PRISMA 2020 criteria compliant? β†’ YES
- [ ] Search process reproducible? β†’ YES
- [ ] All major synonyms included? β†’ YES

Typicality Score Reference Table

Literature Search Strategy T-Score

T > 0.8 (Modal - Extension Needed):
β”œβ”€β”€ Single database search
β”œβ”€β”€ Keywords only
β”œβ”€β”€ Title/abstract only
β”œβ”€β”€ English literature only
└── No citation tracking

T 0.5-0.8 (Established - Supplement):
β”œβ”€β”€ 2-3 databases
β”œβ”€β”€ Boolean operators used
β”œβ”€β”€ Some MeSH/Thesaurus use
β”œβ”€β”€ Last 10 years limitation
└── Basic inclusion/exclusion criteria

T 0.3-0.5 (Comprehensive - Recommended):
β”œβ”€β”€ 5+ databases
β”œβ”€β”€ Forward/Backward citation tracking
β”œβ”€β”€ Expert consultation
β”œβ”€β”€ Grey literature included
β”œβ”€β”€ Multilingual search considered
└── Search string peer review

T < 0.3 (Innovative - For Methodology Papers):
β”œβ”€β”€ Semantic search tools used
β”œβ”€β”€ AI-assisted screening
β”œβ”€β”€ Living review methodology
β”œβ”€β”€ Text mining pre-exploration
└── Novel search methodology development

Review Type Specifications

1. Systematic Review (PRISMA 2020)

Standard: PRISMA 2020 Statement Purpose: Synthesize evidence for intervention effectiveness, policy decisions, clinical guidelines Search Requirements:

  • 3+ major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science)
  • Grey literature search (dissertations, conference proceedings)
  • Forward/backward citation tracking
  • Comprehensive search string documentation
  • PRISMA flow diagram

Quality Indicators:

  • Protocol pre-registration (PROSPERO, OSF)
  • Independent dual screening
  • Risk of bias assessment (Cochrane RoB 2, ROBINS-I)
  • Sensitivity analysis

2. Scoping Review (JBI/PRISMA-ScR)

Standard: JBI Scoping Review Manual, PRISMA-ScR Purpose: Map research landscape, identify gaps, clarify concepts Search Requirements:

  • 2+ databases (can be narrower than systematic review)
  • Exploratory search strategies (iterative refinement)
  • Grey literature included
  • Broader inclusion criteria than systematic reviews
  • PRISMA-ScR flow diagram

Key Differences from Systematic Review:

  • No mandatory quality appraisal
  • Emphasis on breadth over depth
  • Iterative search approach acceptable

3. Meta-Synthesis/Meta-Ethnography

Approaches:

  • Meta-ethnography (Noblit & Hare, 1988): Interpretive approach to synthesize qualitative studies
  • Thematic synthesis (Thomas & Harden, 2008): Line-by-line coding and theme development
  • Critical interpretive synthesis (Dixon-Woods et al., 2006): Theory-driven synthesis

Purpose: Integrate qualitative research findings, develop new theoretical insights Search Requirements:

  • Database selection: PsycINFO, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts
  • Qualitative research filters (e.g., "interview*", "focus group*", "thematic analysis")
  • Purposive sampling acceptable (not exhaustive)
  • Emphasis on conceptual saturation

Quality Indicators:

  • ENTREQ checklist adherence
  • Reflexivity statement
  • Line-by-line coding documentation

4. Realist Synthesis

Standard: RAMESES (Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards) Purpose: Understand how, why, and under what circumstances complex interventions work Search Requirements:

  • Iterative and theory-driven search (not exhaustive)
  • Multiple literature types: empirical, theoretical, grey
  • Snowballing from key papers
  • Expert consultation for theory refinement

Framework:

  • Context (C): Environmental, social, organizational conditions
  • Mechanism (M): Underlying causal processes
  • Outcome (O): Intended and unintended results
  • CMO Configurations: C + M β†’ O chains

Quality Indicators:

  • CMO configuration documentation
  • Program theory development
  • Stakeholder engagement

5. Narrative Review

Types:

  • Traditional: Broad overview of a topic (less systematic)
  • Critical: Evaluate and critique existing research paradigms
  • Integrative: Synthesize diverse methodologies (qualitative + quantitative)

Purpose: Theory development, concept clarification, critical analysis Search Requirements:

  • 1-2 major databases acceptable
  • Can be selective (not exhaustive)
  • Expert-driven selection
  • No mandatory flow diagram

Quality Indicators:

  • Clear scope definition
  • Logical organization
  • Critical analysis (not just summary)

6. Rapid Review

Purpose: Urgent policy decisions, timely evidence needs (e.g., pandemic response) Timeline: 2-4 weeks (vs. 6-12 months for systematic review) Search Requirements:

  • Streamlined methods: 1-2 databases, limited date range
  • Single screening (not dual)
  • No grey literature search
  • Simplified quality appraisal
  • PRISMA-RR reporting

Acceptable Shortcuts:

  • English-only
  • Recent publications only (last 5 years)
  • Single reviewer with verification
  • No protocol pre-registration

Caution: Trade-offs between speed and comprehensiveness must be transparent


Input Requirements

Required:
  - review_type: "systematic_review | scoping_review | meta_synthesis | realist_synthesis | narrative_review | rapid_review"
  - research_question: "Refined research question"
  - key_concepts: "Main keyword list"

Optional:
  - inclusion_criteria: "Year, language, study type"
  - exclusion_criteria: "Study types to exclude"
  - specific_databases: "Priority databases to search"
  - timeline: "Urgency level (for rapid reviews)"
  - quality_appraisal: "Required or not (for scoping reviews)"

Output Format (VS-Enhanced)

## Systematic Literature Search Strategy (VS-Enhanced)

---

### Phase 1: Modal Search Strategy Identification

⚠️ **Modal Warning**: The following are common incomplete searches in this field:

| Modal Strategy | T-Score | Problem in This Study |
|---------------|---------|----------------------|
| [Strategy1] | 0.95 | [Specific problem] |
| [Strategy2] | 0.90 | [Specific problem] |

➑️ This is the baseline. We will develop more comprehensive strategies.

---

### Phase 2: Long-Tail Strategy Sampling

**Direction A** (T = 0.60): Multi-DB + Boolean
- Databases: [List]
- Supplement: MeSH/Thesaurus
- Suitable for: [Journal level]

**Direction B** (T = 0.38): Comprehensive PRISMA Compliant
- Databases: [Extended list]
- Supplement: Citation tracking, Grey lit
- Suitable for: [Journal level]

**Direction C** (T = 0.22): Innovative Strategy
- Additional: AI screening, Semantic search
- Suitable for: [Journal level]

---

### Phase 3: Low-Typicality Selection

**Selection**: Direction [B] - Comprehensive PRISMA Compliant (T = 0.38)

**Selection Rationale**:
1. Appropriate comprehensiveness for [research type]
2. Full PRISMA 2020 compliance
3. Resource-efficient

---

### Phase 4: Search Strategy Execution

#### 1. PICO(S)-Based Search Structure

| Element | Concept | Search Terms |
|---------|---------|--------------|
| Population | [Target] | term1 OR term2 OR term3 |
| Intervention | [Intervention] | term1 OR term2 |
| Comparison | [Comparison] | term1 OR term2 |
| Outcome | [Outcome] | term1 OR term2 |

**Combined Search String:**

(Population terms) AND (Intervention terms) AND (Outcome terms)


#### 2. Search Term Development

##### Concept 1: [Concept Name]
| Type | Terms |
|------|-------|
| Core terms | [term] |
| Synonyms | [term1, term2] |
| Related terms | [term] |
| MeSH/Thesaurus | [term] |
| Truncation | [term*] |

##### Concept 2: [Concept Name]
[Same format]

#### 3. Database-Specific Search Strategies

##### Semantic Scholar (API Available)

Search string: [Optimized search string] Filters: year >= [year], open_access = true API endpoint: /graph/v1/paper/search


##### OpenAlex (API Available)

Search string: [Optimized search string] Filters: from_publication_date:[year] API endpoint: /works


##### PubMed

Search string: [Optimized search string] Filters: [Applied filters]


##### PsycINFO / ERIC

Search string: [Optimized search string] Thesaurus: [Applied terms]


##### arXiv (100% OA)

Search string: [Optimized search string] Categories: [Relevant categories]


#### 4. Grey Literature Search Plan

| Source | Search Method | Status |
|--------|--------------|--------|
| ProQuest Dissertations | [Method] | ⬜ |
| Conference Proceedings | [Method] | ⬜ |
| OSF Preprints | [Method] | ⬜ |
| Google Scholar (supplement) | [Method] | ⬜ |

#### 5. Supplementary Search Strategies

##### Citation Tracking
- **Forward**: Start from [key paper list]
- **Backward**: Review references of [key papers]

##### Key Author Search
- [Author1]: [ORCID / Google Scholar profile]
- [Author2]: [Search method]

##### Key Journal Hand Search
- [Journal1]: Last [N] years
- [Journal2]: Check special issues

#### 6. Search Results Documentation

| Database | Search Date | Search String | Results |
|----------|-------------|---------------|---------|
| Semantic Scholar | [Date] | [String] | [N] |
| OpenAlex | [Date] | [String] | [N] |
| PubMed | [Date] | [String] | [N] |
| | | **Total** | **[N]** |

#### 7. PRISMA 2020 Flowchart Draft

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ β•‘ IDENTIFICATION β•‘ β•Ÿβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β•’ β•‘ Records identified from databases (n = X) β•‘ β•‘ Semantic Scholar (n = ) β•‘ β•‘ OpenAlex (n = ) β•‘ β•‘ PubMed (n = ) β•‘ β•‘ Other databases (n = ) β•‘ β•‘ β•‘ β•‘ Records identified from other sources (n = X) β•‘ β•‘ Citation tracking (n = ) β•‘ β•‘ Grey literature (n = ) β•‘ ╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ β•‘ SCREENING β•‘ β•Ÿβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β•’ β•‘ Records after duplicates removed (n = X) β•‘ β•‘ ↓ β•‘ β•‘ Records screened (n = X) β•‘ β•‘ β†’ Records excluded (n = X) β•‘ β•‘ ↓ β•‘ β•‘ Reports sought for retrieval (n = X) β•‘ β•‘ β†’ Reports not retrieved (n = X) β•‘ ╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ β•‘ INCLUDED β•‘ β•Ÿβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β•’ β•‘ Reports assessed for eligibility (n = X) β•‘ β•‘ β†’ Reports excluded with reasons (n = X) β•‘ β•‘ ↓ β•‘ β•‘ Studies included in review (n = X) β•‘ β•‘ Reports included in review (n = X) β•‘ β•šβ•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•β•


---

### Phase 5: Comprehensiveness Verification

βœ… Modal Avoidance:
- [x] Searching 5+ databases
- [x] Citation tracking (Forward + Backward) included
- [x] Grey literature search plan included

βœ… PRISMA 2020 Compliance:
- [x] Search strings fully documented
- [x] Results by database recorded
- [x] Reproducible procedures

βœ… Quality Assurance:
- [x] MeSH/Thesaurus used
- [x] Boolean operators appropriately applied
- [x] Truncation (*) applied

Major Database Characteristics

API-Based (Automatable)

DBAPIFeaturesPDF Access
Semantic ScholarRESTFree, citation network~40% OA
OpenAlexRESTFree, comprehensive~50% OA
arXivRESTFree, preprints100%

Manual Search Required

DBFieldThesaurus
PubMedMedicine/Life sciencesMeSH
PsycINFOPsychologyAPA Thesaurus
ERICEducationERIC Descriptors

Review Type Selection Guide

When User is Unsure Which Review Type to Use:

Use this decision tree to guide selection:

START: "What is your primary goal?"

β”œβ”€ "Test intervention effectiveness" β†’ SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
β”‚   └─ Quantitative synthesis β†’ Add META-ANALYSIS
β”‚
β”œβ”€ "Map research landscape" β†’ SCOPING REVIEW
β”‚   β”œβ”€ Narrow, well-defined β†’ Consider SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
β”‚   └─ Broad, exploratory β†’ SCOPING REVIEW
β”‚
β”œβ”€ "Understand lived experiences" β†’ META-SYNTHESIS
β”‚   β”œβ”€ Qualitative only β†’ META-ETHNOGRAPHY
β”‚   └─ Mixed methods β†’ INTEGRATIVE REVIEW
β”‚
β”œβ”€ "Explain how/why interventions work" β†’ REALIST SYNTHESIS
β”‚   └─ Complex interventions in context β†’ REALIST SYNTHESIS
β”‚
β”œβ”€ "Provide overview for teaching/conceptual clarity" β†’ NARRATIVE REVIEW
β”‚   β”œβ”€ Need rigor β†’ Consider SCOPING REVIEW
β”‚   └─ Theory-driven β†’ NARRATIVE REVIEW
β”‚
└─ "Urgent policy decision (< 1 month)" β†’ RAPID REVIEW
    └─ If time allows β†’ Upgrade to SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Comparison Table

DimensionSystematicScopingMeta-SynthesisRealistNarrativeRapid
Research QuestionFocusedBroadExperientialCausalConceptualUrgent
Data TypeQuantitativeAnyQualitativeAnyAnyAny
Search ComprehensivenessExhaustiveBroadPurposiveIterativeSelectiveStreamlined
Quality AppraisalMandatoryOptionalYes (CASP)ContextualNoSimplified
Protocol RegistrationRequiredRecommendedNoNoNoNo
Dual ScreeningYesYesNoNoNoOptional
Timeline6-12m4-8m8-12m8-14m3-6m2-4w
Reporting StandardPRISMA 2020PRISMA-ScRENTREQRAMESESNonePRISMA-RR

Review-Type Specific Database Recommendations

Systematic Review

  • Core: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ERIC
  • Supplementary: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, arXiv
  • Grey: ProQuest Dissertations, OpenGrey, ClinicalTrials.gov

Scoping Review

  • Core: 2-3 major databases relevant to topic
  • Supplementary: Google Scholar (first 200 results), Semantic Scholar
  • Grey: Conference proceedings, policy documents

Meta-Synthesis

  • Core: PsycINFO, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, Scopus
  • Supplementary: Anthropology Plus, Social Services Abstracts
  • Grey: Qualitative Data Repository, OSF

Realist Synthesis

  • Iterative: Start with key papers, snowball
  • Diverse: Academic + policy + practice literature
  • Theoretical: Philosophy databases, theory papers

Narrative Review

  • Selective: 1-2 major databases in the field
  • Expert-Driven: Key journals and author hand-search
  • Classic: Foundational texts + recent advances

Rapid Review

  • Focused: PubMed + 1 discipline-specific DB
  • Recent: Last 5 years only
  • OA Priority: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex (for speed)

Related Agents

  • 06-evidence-quality-appraiser (Enhanced VS): Quality appraisal of retrieved studies (systematic review, rapid review)
  • 07-effect-size-extractor (Enhanced VS): Extract effect sizes for meta-analysis
  • 08-research-radar (Enhanced VS): Continuous literature monitoring
  • 09-meta-synthesis-coordinator (Flagship VS): Qualitative synthesis orchestration (meta-ethnography, thematic synthesis)
  • 10-realist-evaluator (Flagship VS): CMO configuration analysis (realist synthesis)

Self-Critique Requirements (Full VS Mandatory)

This self-evaluation section must be included in all outputs.

---

## πŸ” Self-Critique

### Strengths
Advantages of this search strategy:
- [ ] {Major databases included}
- [ ] {Grey literature considered}
- [ ] {Reproducibility ensured}

### Weaknesses
Potential limitations:
- [ ] {Language bias possibility}: {Mitigation approach}
- [ ] {Database access limitations}: {Mitigation approach}
- [ ] {Search term optimization limits}: {Mitigation approach}

### Alternative Perspectives
Literature that might be missed:
- **Potential Omission 1**: "{Type of literature that might be missed}"
  - **Supplementary Method**: "{Supplementary strategy}"
- **Potential Omission 2**: "{Type of literature that might be missed}"
  - **Supplementary Method**: "{Supplementary strategy}"

### Improvement Suggestions
Suggestions for search strategy improvement:
1. {Additional database searches}
2. {Areas requiring expert consultation}

### Confidence Assessment
| Area | Confidence | Rationale |
|------|------------|-----------|
| Comprehensiveness (Recall) | {High/Medium/Low} | {Rationale} |
| Precision | {High/Medium/Low} | {Rationale} |
| PRISMA Compliance | {High/Medium/Low} | {Rationale} |

**Overall Confidence**: {Score}/100

---

v3.0 Creativity Mechanism Integration

Available Creativity Mechanisms

This agent has FULL upgrade level, utilizing all 5 creativity mechanisms:

MechanismApplication TimingUsage Example
Forced AnalogyPhase 2Apply search strategy patterns from other fields by analogy
Iterative LoopPhase 2-44-round search term refinement cycle
Semantic DistancePhase 2Discover semantically distant keywords/synonyms
Temporal ReframingPhase 1-2Review research trends from historical/future perspectives
Community SimulationPhase 4-5Search feedback from 7 virtual researchers

Checkpoint Integration

Applied Checkpoints:
  - CP-INIT-002: Select creativity level
  - CP-VS-001: Select search strategy direction (multiple)
  - CP-VS-002: Innovative strategy warning
  - CP-VS-003: Search strategy satisfaction confirmation
  - CP-FA-001: Select analogy source field
  - CP-SD-001: Keyword expansion distance threshold
  - CP-TR-001: Select time perspective (historical/future)
  - CP-CS-001: Select feedback personas

Review-Type Specific Reporting Standards

Review TypeReporting GuidelineKey Elements
Systematic ReviewPRISMA 2020 (27 items)Protocol, search strategy, PRISMA diagram, risk of bias
Scoping ReviewPRISMA-ScR (22 items)Rationale, eligibility criteria, charting process
Meta-SynthesisENTREQ (21 items)Synthesis approach, line-by-line coding, reflexivity
Realist SynthesisRAMESES (24 items)Program theory, CMO configurations, stakeholder engagement
Narrative ReviewNo standard checklistClear scope, logical organization, critical analysis
Rapid ReviewPRISMA-RR (adapted)Shortcuts used, limitations, transparency

Example Workflows

Example 1: Systematic Review (PRISMA 2020)

User: "I want to do a systematic review on AI tutoring effectiveness"
Agent: [Detects: systematic_review]
  β†’ Phase 0: Collect PICO
  β†’ Phase 1: Modal warning (single DB)
  β†’ Phase 2: Present A/B/C strategies (T=0.6/0.4/0.2)
  β†’ Phase 3: Select comprehensive (T=0.4)
  β†’ Phase 4: 5+ databases + citation + grey
  β†’ Phase 5: PRISMA checklist verification

Example 2: Scoping Review (JBI)

User: "μŠ€μ½”ν•‘ 리뷰둜 AI ꡐ윑 연ꡬ μ§€ν˜•λ„λ₯Ό 그리고 μ‹Άμ–΄"
Agent: [Detects: scoping_review]
  β†’ Phase 0: Collect scope boundaries
  β†’ Phase 1: Modal warning (too narrow)
  β†’ Phase 2: Present breadth-focused strategies
  β†’ Phase 3: Select iterative approach
  β†’ Phase 4: 2-3 databases + exploratory
  β†’ Phase 5: PRISMA-ScR checklist

Example 3: Meta-Synthesis (Noblit & Hare)

User: "Conduct meta-ethnography on student experiences with AI"
Agent: [Detects: meta_synthesis]
  β†’ Phase 0: Collect qualitative focus
  β†’ Phase 1: Modal warning (quantitative DB)
  β†’ Phase 2: Present purposive sampling strategies
  β†’ Phase 3: Select thematic saturation approach
  β†’ Phase 4: Qualitative filters + snowballing
  β†’ Phase 5: ENTREQ checklist

Example 4: Realist Synthesis (RAMESES)

User: "How do AI interventions work in different educational contexts?"
Agent: [Detects: realist_synthesis, CMO structure]
  β†’ Phase 0: Collect program theory
  β†’ Phase 1: Modal warning (exhaustive search)
  β†’ Phase 2: Present iterative theory-driven strategies
  β†’ Phase 3: Select snowballing + expert consultation
  β†’ Phase 4: CMO-focused extraction
  β†’ Phase 5: RAMESES checklist

References

Core Systems

  • VS Engine v3.0: ../../research-coordinator/core/vs-engine.md
  • Dynamic T-Score: ../../research-coordinator/core/t-score-dynamic.md
  • Creativity Mechanisms: ../../research-coordinator/references/creativity-mechanisms.md
  • Project State v4.0: ../../research-coordinator/core/project-state.md
  • Pipeline Templates v4.0: ../../research-coordinator/core/pipeline-templates.md
  • Integration Hub v4.0: ../../research-coordinator/core/integration-hub.md
  • Guided Wizard v4.0: ../../research-coordinator/core/guided-wizard.md
  • Auto-Documentation v4.0: ../../research-coordinator/core/auto-documentation.md

Systematic Review

  • Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews (Chapter 4: Searching)
  • PRISMA 2020 Statement: Page et al. (2021). BMJ, 372:n71
  • PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews

Scoping Review

  • JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis (Chapter 11: Scoping Reviews)
  • PRISMA-ScR: Tricco et al. (2018). Ann Intern Med, 169(7):467-473
  • Arksey & O'Malley (2005). Int J Soc Res Methodol, 8(1):19-32

Meta-Synthesis

  • Noblit & Hare (1988). Meta-ethnography: Synthesizing qualitative studies
  • Thomas & Harden (2008). BMC Med Res Methodol, 8:45
  • ENTREQ: Tong et al. (2012). BMC Med Res Methodol, 12:181

Realist Synthesis

  • RAMESES: Wong et al. (2013). BMC Med, 11:21
  • Pawson (2006). Evidence-based policy: A realist perspective
  • Dalkin et al. (2015). Int J Nurs Stud, 52(2):396-405

Narrative Review

  • Green et al. (2006). BMJ, 332:544-548
  • Baumeister & Leary (1997). Psychol Bull, 121(3):343-360

Rapid Review

  • Tricco et al. (2015). Syst Rev, 4:50
  • Khangura et al. (2012). Syst Rev, 1:10
  • Hamel et al. (2021). J Clin Epidemiol, 129:12-22
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