Using the Migration Research Hub to conduct and visualise systematic literature reviews

2020-03-31 19:40:39

The Migration Research Hub is the tool for getting an overview of knowledge on migration. From journal articles to projects to datasets, all types of research are indexed and handily categorised according to the taxonomy of migration studies. Users can also add their own literature by following these instructions [link to the video on manual entry forms]. This short post explains how you can use the Migration Research Hub’s database to gain an overview of migration research to build a systematic literature review or a grant application.

Part 1: Searching for the results

You can search through the research database in two main ways. The search bar, helps you find more specific kinds of research, while the taxonomy of migration studies has grouped all research on specific certain topics, or from a certain discipline or method, or focused on a certain geographic area.

Part 2: Analyse the results

You can analyse your search results by using the filters on the right-hand side of the results page. For instance, you may want to get statistics on the prominence of a topic over time, or you may want to know how many research items on your topic overlap with other topics, disciplines, methods, or geographical focuses. Once you have a filter in place, you can export all of these statistics by using the ‘export stats’ link above the filters menu.

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Part 3: Visualise the results

The research database now has the capability to generate a snapshot of the distribution of search results across time, types of publication, topics, and geographical focuses. When you have conducted a search, you can toggle between results and visualisations by using the ‘view stats’/’view results’ link above the filters menu. You can make a screenshot of these graphs, for example, to serve as visual aids in grant applications or systematic literature reviews, and you can even save the choropleths (maps) into various formats such as .jpg and .pdf.

Just like when analysing search results, you can save the statistics by using the ‘export stats’ link above the filters menu.

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