Search assumptions

Well, any assumptions it’s best to be wary of them. One can’t get through life distrusting everything but naively believing everyone is not wise. I am trying to reserve judgment. 

So, when I read search guidance or review filters meant to find almost all RCTs, I test and adjust them. Almost always, I make the subject part of the search as sensitive as possible. This is because I work in a field where there isn’t much evidence in many areas. Many people do the opposite, restricting search with “word cuffs,” such as asterisks and quotes, that stop a term from mapping. 

I have learned that every database does not always work as intended. Rules of search sometimes prevent us from finding everything, even the most pertinent papers the filter was designed by experts to detect.

It’s funny because, knowing myself, I don’t think I’d have the patience to create a filter, but I am excellent at deconstructing and finding flaws.

Always read the fine print regarding search fields.