An observational study is a type of research design used to gather information about individuals or populations without manipulating the environment or variables. In these studies, researchers observe and collect data on subjects as they naturally occur in their usual settings.
Adding another search line with keywords or phrases directly related to a study type will help narrow results and is one way of finding the study type you are interested in.
Some of the keywords related to observational studies might include, but are not limited to the following:
Example:
Subject headings are standard descriptions used by databases to help with searching. They will differ across databases but help to retrieve articles on a topic, even if different words are used in the text.
Subject headings should be investigated within each database but some examples for observational studies may include:
Learn more about Subject Headings
Some databases include advanced search options that allow you to limit your results to certain study or publication types.
Search filters are pre-made search strategies designed to retrieve specific results from databases including different study types. They can sometimes be very complex multi-line searches that you can add to your existing search strategy and then combine with AND.
Careful consideration is required when using search filters to ensure they meet specific needs.