Systematic Literature Studies: Database Searches vs. Backward Snowballing

Samireh Jalali; Claes Wohlin

doi:10.1145/2372251.2372257

Systematic Literature Studies: Database Searches vs. Backward Snowballing

Samireh Jalali, Claes Wohlin

Department of Electrical and Information Technology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Paper in conference proceeding › peer-review

Abstract

Systematic studies of the literature can be done in different ways. In particular, different guidelines propose different first steps in their recommendations, e.g. start with search strings in different databases or start with the reference lists of a starting set of papers.

In software engineering, the main recommended first step is using search strings in a number of databases, while in information systems, snowballing has been recommended as the first step. This paper compares the two different search approaches for conducting literature review studies.

The comparison is conducted by searching for articles addressing "Agile practices in global software engineering". The focus of the paper is on evaluating the two different search approaches.

Despite the differences in the included papers, the conclusions and the patterns found in both studies are quite similar. The strengths and weaknesses of each first step are discussed separately and in comparison with each other.

It is concluded that none of the first steps is outperforming the other, and the choice of guideline to follow, and hence the first step, may be context-specific, i.e. depending on the area of study.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	[Host publication title missing]
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Pages	29-38
ISBN (Print)	978-1-4503-1056-7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/2372251.2372257
Publication status	Published - 2012
Event	ACM-IEEE international symposium on Empirical software engineering and measurement, ESEM '12 - Lund, Sweden Duration: 2012 Sept 19 → 2012 Sept 20

Conference

Conference	ACM-IEEE international symposium on Empirical software engineering and measurement, ESEM '12
Country/Territory	Sweden
City	Lund
Period	2012/09/19 → 2012/09/20

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: External organization(s) (LUR000040), Department of Communication Systems (011020000)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Media and Communications

Access to Document

10.1145/2372251.2372257

EASE: Embedded Applications Software Engineering
Åkesson, J. (Researcher), Magnusson, B. (Researcher), Svensson Fors, D. (Researcher), Magnusson, E. (Researcher), Hedin, G. (Researcher), Kuchcinski, K. (Researcher), Andersson, P. (Researcher), Nugues, P. (Researcher), Robertz, S. (Researcher), Ekman, T. (Researcher), Loconsole, A. (Researcher), Orucevic-Alagic, A. (Researcher), Johnsson, B. A. (Researcher), Pfahl, D. (Researcher), Bjarnason, E. (Researcher), Söderberg, E. (Researcher), Sabaliauskaité, G. (Researcher), Jonsson, H. (Researcher), Janneck, J. (Researcher), Wnuk, K. (Researcher), Borg, M. (Researcher), Skoglund, M. (Researcher), Sulaman, S. M. (Researcher), Minör, S. (Researcher), Sandholm, T. (Researcher), Alce, G. (Researcher), Wallergård, M. (Researcher), Zhang, C. (Researcher), Barney, S. (Researcher), Martinsen, J. K. (Researcher), Grahn, H. (Researcher), Jalali, S. (Researcher), Ardö, A. (Researcher), Engström, E. (Researcher), Berntsson Svensson, R. (Researcher), Regnell, B. (Researcher), Runeson, P. (PI), Wohlin, C. (PI), Höst, M. (Researcher) & Wisbrant, J. (Project communication officer)
2008/09/30 → 2018/12/31
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Systematic Literature Studies: Database Searches vs. Backward Snowballing",

abstract = "Systematic studies of the literature can be done in different ways. In particular, different guidelines propose different first steps in their recommendations, e.g. start with search strings in different databases or start with the reference lists of a starting set of papers. In software engineering, the main recommended first step is using search strings in a number of databases, while in information systems, snowballing has been recommended as the first step. This paper compares the two different search approaches for conducting literature review studies. The comparison is conducted by searching for articles addressing {"}Agile practices in global software engineering{"}. The focus of the paper is on evaluating the two different search approaches. Despite the differences in the included papers, the conclusions and the patterns found in both studies are quite similar. The strengths and weaknesses of each first step are discussed separately and in comparison with each other. It is concluded that none of the first steps is outperforming the other, and the choice of guideline to follow, and hence the first step, may be context-specific, i.e. depending on the area of study.",

author = "Samireh Jalali and Claes Wohlin",

note = "The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: External organization(s) (LUR000040), Department of Communication Systems (011020000); ACM-IEEE international symposium on Empirical software engineering and measurement, ESEM '12 ; Conference date: 19-09-2012 Through 20-09-2012",

year = "2012",

doi = "10.1145/2372251.2372257",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-1-4503-1056-7",

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publisher = "Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)",

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AU - Jalali, Samireh

AU - Wohlin, Claes

N1 - The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: External organization(s) (LUR000040), Department of Communication Systems (011020000)

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Systematic studies of the literature can be done in different ways. In particular, different guidelines propose different first steps in their recommendations, e.g. start with search strings in different databases or start with the reference lists of a starting set of papers. In software engineering, the main recommended first step is using search strings in a number of databases, while in information systems, snowballing has been recommended as the first step. This paper compares the two different search approaches for conducting literature review studies. The comparison is conducted by searching for articles addressing "Agile practices in global software engineering". The focus of the paper is on evaluating the two different search approaches. Despite the differences in the included papers, the conclusions and the patterns found in both studies are quite similar. The strengths and weaknesses of each first step are discussed separately and in comparison with each other. It is concluded that none of the first steps is outperforming the other, and the choice of guideline to follow, and hence the first step, may be context-specific, i.e. depending on the area of study.

AB - Systematic studies of the literature can be done in different ways. In particular, different guidelines propose different first steps in their recommendations, e.g. start with search strings in different databases or start with the reference lists of a starting set of papers. In software engineering, the main recommended first step is using search strings in a number of databases, while in information systems, snowballing has been recommended as the first step. This paper compares the two different search approaches for conducting literature review studies. The comparison is conducted by searching for articles addressing "Agile practices in global software engineering". The focus of the paper is on evaluating the two different search approaches. Despite the differences in the included papers, the conclusions and the patterns found in both studies are quite similar. The strengths and weaknesses of each first step are discussed separately and in comparison with each other. It is concluded that none of the first steps is outperforming the other, and the choice of guideline to follow, and hence the first step, may be context-specific, i.e. depending on the area of study.

U2 - 10.1145/2372251.2372257

DO - 10.1145/2372251.2372257

M3 - Paper in conference proceeding

SN - 978-1-4503-1056-7

SP - 29

EP - 38

BT - [Host publication title missing]

PB - Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

T2 - ACM-IEEE international symposium on Empirical software engineering and measurement, ESEM '12

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ER -

Systematic Literature Studies: Database Searches vs. Backward Snowballing

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

Subject classification (UKÄ)

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Projects

EASE: Embedded Applications Software Engineering

Cite this