search-log-template

A structured search log captures database name, query terms, search date, result count, and screening decisions in one audit trail. This template automates recording these details to ensure your literature review is reproducible and meets PRISMA reporting standards.

Record the database used, exact search query, number of results retrieved, inclusion/exclusion criteria applied, and how many studies passed screening. This creates an auditable trail that demonstrates your review methodology and supports transparency in academic writing and grant proposals.

Yes. The template captures search records, screening rationale for included and excluded studies, and pass rates for each database query. This tracks your decision logic and retention counts across all sources in a single reproducible document.

A search log provides the audit trail reviewers and readers expect in systematic reviews. It demonstrates which databases you searched, what queries you ran, how many results you found, and why you included or excluded studies—essential for PRISMA compliance and research integrity.

PRISMA requires documenting database name, search strategy with query terms, date searched, number of results, and screening outcomes. A structured log template captures all these elements systematically so your literature review meets reporting guidelines for narrative, systematic, scoping, or meta-analytic reviews.

By recording search strategies, result counts, and screening decisions consistently across databases, a search log reveals patterns in what was retrieved and why studies were retained or excluded. This transparency helps identify selection bias and ensures your review methodology is defensible.