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Animal Alternatives Searching

Reporting Your Search

To fully report your search in the IACUC protocol, you need to provide

  • Databases searched. Search at least two.
  • Dates covered in the search
  • Exact search string you used to search. A list of keywords is not sufficient. 

The easiest way to report the search string is from the Search History available in most databases. From there, you can cut and paste the search strategy or take a screenshot of the whole page.

In PubMed, search history is on the Advanced search page, which is accessible from your search results:

 

In Biological Abstracts & Web of Science, Search History is in the upper toolbar.

Click the Edit icon to access a search string:

Animal Research Reporting Standards

Research reporting standards provide minimum guidelines and recommendations for reporting research methods and results transparently and in sufficient detail that methods can be critically evaluated and results can potentially be reproduced. Transparent reporting of results can assist in the reduction of animals used in research.