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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Improving the translation of search strategies using the Polyglot Search Translator: a randomized controlled trial
Journal of the Medical Library Association, Vol.108(2), pp.195-207
04/2020
PMCID: PMC7069833
PMID: 32256231
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Searching for studies to include in a systematic review (SR) is a time- and labor-intensive process with searches of multiple databases recommended. To reduce the time spent translating search strings across databases, a tool called the Polyglot Search Translator (PST) was developed. The authors evaluated whether using the PST as a search translation aid reduces the time required to translate search strings without increasing errors.
In a randomized trial, twenty participants were randomly allocated ten database search strings and then randomly assigned to translate five with the assistance of the PST (PST-A method) and five without the assistance of the PST (manual method). We compared the time taken to translate search strings, the number of errors made, and how close the number of references retrieved by a translated search was to the number retrieved by a reference standard translation.
Sixteen participants performed 174 translations using the PST-A method and 192 translations using the manual method. The mean time taken to translate a search string with the PST-A method was 31 minutes versus 45 minutes by the manual method (mean difference: 14 minutes). The mean number of errors made per translation by the PST-A method was 8.6 versus 14.6 by the manual method. Large variation in the number of references retrieved makes results for this outcome inconclusive, although the number of references retrieved by the PST-A method was closer to the reference standard translation than the manual method.
When used to assist with translating search strings across databases, the PST can increase the speed of translation without increasing errors. Errors in search translations can still be a problem, and search specialists should be aware of this.
Details
- Title
- Improving the translation of search strategies using the Polyglot Search Translator: a randomized controlled trial
- Creators
- Justin Michael Clark - Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia, jclark@bond.edu.au, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0133-1613Sharon Sanders - Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia, ssanders@bond.edu.auMatthew Carter - Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia, macarter@bond.edu.auDavid Honeyman - Bond University Library, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia, d_honeyman@hotmail.comGina Cleo - Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia, gcleo@bond.edu.auYvonne Auld - Gold Coast Health Library Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Australia, Yvonne.Auld@health.qld.gov.auDebbie Booth - University Library, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia, debbie.booth@newcastle.edu.auPatrick Condron - University Library, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, p.condron@unimelb.edu.auChristine Dalais - University Library, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, c.dalais@library.uq.edu.auSarah Bateup - Bond University Library, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia, sbateup@bond.edu.auBronwyn Linthwaite - Bond University Library, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia, blinthwa@bond.edu.auNikki May - Sturt Library, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, nikki.may@sa.gov.auJo Munn - Southern Cross UniversityLindy Ramsay - University Library, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, Queensland, Australia, Lindy.Ramsay@acu.edu.auKirsty Rickett - University Library, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, k.rickett@library.uq.edu.auCameron Rutter - University Library, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia, c.rutter@qut.edu.auAngela Smith - Hunter New England Health Libraries, New South Wales (NSW) Health, Hunter Region, New South Wales, Australia, Angela.Smith@hnehealth.nsw.gov.auPeter Sondergeld - University Library, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia, p.sondergeld@qut.edu.auMargie Wallin - Southern Cross UniversityMark Jones - Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia, majones@bond.edu.auElaine Beller - Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia, ebeller@bond.edu.au
- Publication Details
- Journal of the Medical Library Association, Vol.108(2), pp.195-207
- Publisher
- University of Pittsburgh * University Library System
- Grant note
- The authors thank the Project Transform team, based at Cochrane Australia, for assistance with funding to conduct this evaluation and for feedback on the manuscript.
- Identifiers
- 991012925588402368
- Copyright
- Copyright (c) 2020 Justin Michael Clark, Sharon Sanders, Matthew Carter, David Honeyman, Gina Cleo, Yvonne Auld, Debbie Booth, Patrick Condron, Christine Dalais, Sarah Bateup, Bronwyn Linthwaite, Nikki May, Jo Munn, Lindy Ramsay, Kirsty Rickett, Cameron Rutter, et al. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Academic Unit
- Centre for Teaching and Learning
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article