Qualitative Research: Filters
Inclusion of a search filter on this site is not an endorsement of its validity or a recommendation for its use by the editors of this site, by the InterTASC Information Specialists SubGroup or by the (UK) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). For suggestions on the appraisal of filters see the ISSG Search Filter Appraisal Checklist.
This page shows publications that have reviewed search filter performance and individual search filters.
Please note that other filter sites/filter collections may have relevant filters for this topic.
Publications that review search filter performance
Rosumeck S, Wagner M, Wallraf S, Euler U. A validation study revealed differences in design and performance of search filters for qualitative research in PsycINFO and CINAHL. J Clin Epidemiol. 2020; 128: 101-108.
Wagner M, Rosumeck S, Kuffmeier C, et al. A validation study revealed differences in design and performance of MEDLINE search filters for qualitative research . J Clin Epidemiol. 2020;120: 17-24.
Rogers M, Bethel A & Abbott R. Locating qualitative studies in dementia on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO: a comparison of search strategies. Res Synth Methods 2018;9:579-586
DeJean D, Giacomini M, Simeonov D, Smith A. Finding qualitative research evidence for health technology assessment. Qual Health Res. 2016;26(10):1307-17
Individual search filters
Database indexing changes over time and new vocabulary may be introduced. With older filters, please check the subject indexing to ensure that the subject indexing is still current and, if not, consider whether new vocabulary may need to be added to the filter. Please note that if filters are amended, the performance may change from that published in the original articles and the filter should be reported as amended from the original filter.
CINAHL
Wilczynski NL, Marks S, Haynes RB. Search strategies for identifying qualitative studies in CINAHL. Qual Health Res. 2007;17(5):705-10.
Marks S. Qualitative studies. In: McKibbon A, Eady A, Marks S. PDQ evidence-based principles and practice. Hamilton, Canada: BC Decker Inc., 1999.
Nesbit K. Evidence-based filters for Ovid CINAHL. Date Last Updated 2012-09-26. University of Rochester Medical Center [Ovid]
Embase
FMD(3S)/CHLA Qualitative research search filter [2014] [Ovid]
Walters LA, Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB; Hedges Team. Developing optimal search strategies for retrieving clinically relevant qualitative studies in EMBASE. Qual Health Res. 2006;16(1):162-8. [Ovid]
General
Grant MJ. How does your searching grow? A survey of search preferences and the use of optimal search strategies in the identification of qualitative research. Health Info Libr J. 2004;21(1):21-32.
Shaw RL, Booth A, Sutton AJ, Miller T, Smith JA, Young B, Jones DR, Dixon-Woods M. Finding qualitative research: an evaluation of search strategies. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2004;4:5.
MEDLINE
VonVille, Helena. Filters for qualitative studies.
Slater, Linda G. A
Comprehensive Filter to Retrieve Qualitative Studies from the OVID MEDLINE Database (based on McKibbon, Eady and Marks (1999) and Evans (2002). Geoffrey & Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta. Oct 4, 2017. [Ovid]
A Focused Filter to Retrieve Qualitative Studies from the MEDLINE Database. Geoffrey & Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta. Oct 5, 2017. [Ovid]
DeJean D, Giacomini M, Simeonov D, Smith A. Finding qualitative research evidence for health technology assessment. Qual Health Res. 2016;26(10) 1307–1317
FMD(3S)/CHLA Qualitative research search filter [2014] [Filters available for MEDLINE via Ovid, PubMed]
Launch search in PubMed
Gorecki CA, Brown JM, Briggs M, Nixon J. Evaluation of five search strategies in retrieving qualitative patient-reported electronic data on the impact of pressure ulcers on quality of life. J Adv Nurs. 2010;66(3):645-52.
Comment: Roe, B. Literature searching and locating qualitative data and studies. J Adv Nurs 2010;66(3): 481.
Important note: All of the MEDLINE strategies presented below were developed before the MeSH Heading ‘Qualitative Research’ was introduced – Year of Entry: 2003. This should be taken into account when using these strategies. As new strategies are developed which include and/or evaluate the performance of this heading they will be added to this section.
Wong SS, Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB. Developing optimal search strategies for detecting clinically relevant qualitative studies in MEDLINE. Medinfo 2004;11(1):311-6.
Grant MJ. Searching for qualitative research studies on the Medline database [oral presentation]. Qualitative Evidence Based Practice Conference; 2000 May 14-16; Coventry University, UK.
Grant MJ. Development of an optimal search strategy for qualitative research methodologies [oral presentation]. Qualitative Evidence Based Practice Conference; 2000 May 15-17; Coventry University, UK.
Marks S. Qualitative studies. In: McKibbon A, Eady A, Marks S. PDQ evidence-based principles and practice. Hamilton, Canada: BC Decker Inc., 1999.
Health Information Research Unit, McMaster University strategy [undated] [Ovid & PubMed translation]
PsycINFO
Slater, Linda G.
A Comprehensive Filter to Retrieve Qualitative Studies from the Ovid PSYCINFO Database. Geoffrey & Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta. Revised Oct 5, 2017.
A Focused Filter to Retrieve Qualitative Studies from the PsycInfo Database. Geoffrey & Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta. Oct 9, 2005.
University of Texas School of Public Health. Search filters for qualitative studies. Accessed 06 Dec 2013. [Ovid]
McKibbon KA, Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB. Developing optimal search strategies for retrieving qualitative studies in PsycINFO. Eval Health Prof. 2006;29(4):440-54.
Scopus
Slater, Linda G. A Filter to Retrieve Qualitative Studies from the SCOPUS Database. Geoffrey & Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta. Revised April 26, 2021.