How individual consultations with a librarian can support systematic reviews in the social sciences

Abstract

The use of systematic review as a research method has become increasingly prevalent in the social and human sciences. However, the role of the librarian in delivering library and information skills (LIS) support in this area remains relatively undocumented, in contrast with the health sciences where systematic review support is often highly visible and embedded. This exploratory study uses qualitative survey data collected from researchers who attended an individual consultation with a librarian and aims to identify the potential role and impact that LIS support can have. The results indicate that both the skills and confidence of researchers increased as a result of the interaction, and that the personalised nature of the consultation provided additional value. However, awareness of the service was relatively low, indicating the need for additional marketing and promotion, as well as increased liaison and engagement with academic and research staff. These findings provide a foundation for further research into the design and delivery of LIS support to those undertaking systematic reviews in the social sciences.