Where the fuck am I going wrong with this? (Dissertation for uni)

[namechangesforum]

Trying to do dissertation work for uni, supposed to be doing database searching.

I have done 4 searches - 2 databases, expanded search twice.

Kept note of the number of duplicates, foreign language, things that weren’t journals, then removed by title, then by abstract, then by skim read.

I have 25 papers left. When I add up all the stuff I have removed, it says I should have 33 left.

I’ve checked the number for each database twice - I’ve been sitting doing this for an hour now, and can’t work out where the extra 8 are coming from.

I’m losing the will to live, I’m shattered and need to get this done this weekend - and really, really don’t want to have to go back to square 1 and start searching again. It’s already proving difficult trying to narrow the 25 papers I’ve got to less than 10.

How can I get this sorted? Obviously I’ve made a mistake somewhere but can’t figure out how.

Have some duplicated?

Sorry that's probably not much help but I remember sitting looking at mine while totally brain fried and wanting to cry so I know how you feel!

Are you getting too bogged down in this?

Hw about taking a step away and reading some of the articles you have found. Then you can link through the articles they reference if you want more sources to review.

Are you using Prisma? Are you sure you've entered the correct numbers at each stage?

Can only think you have removed some duplicates twice but only counted once.

When I am confused like this I go beck to basics.

Database 1 -50 sources. I removed 5 as foreign, 4 as dupes etc. left 34-list of 34
Database 2 the same. List 2
Then work out why list 2 plus list 1 isn't sane as 25 you have left.

I think they must have, or I’ve made a mistake with numbers somewhere when deleting articles. I’ve kept a list of the 25 I’m keeping (that needs further reduced), so will repeat the same searches - repeat them again, and do all the numbers stuff again. At least I won’t need to re-read everything, it’s just repeating the same systematic deleting thingamy…

I’m going to stop just now, get a shower, eat something and come back to it this afternoon. I’m meant to hand in for formative feedback tomorrow and I’m so overwhelmed with everything I just want to scream.

Somewhere you’ve made an error, probably with duplicates. Or your initial count was wrong. How are you organising your records? Endnote? Excel?

I’d recommend using Covidence (there is a free version but your uni likely has a subscription anyway). I’m a dissertation supervisor and I have all my students use Covidence.

For today though, I’d take a break. It’s always better to give something time and come back to it fresh.

Also in terms of feedback, give your supervisor the articles you’ve found and the search strategy and the numbers best you can do them. They will not care if it all makes perfect sense now. Me personally, I wouldn’t even be looking at the numbers. I’d check the search strategy and I’d skim through titles of included articles. And make sure it all fits your research question, which is the most important bit.