Evaluating strategies for forward snowballing application to support secondary studies updates

Abstract

Context: Secondary studies should be updated from time to time to include new evidence to preserve their value. It is recognized that one search technique to update secondary studies is forward snowballing and that the number of studies identified is dependent on the electronic databases selected. However, there is no consensus on what electronic database is most appropriate for applying forward snowballing. Objective: The main goal of this study is to evaluate the use of different electronic databases for applying forward snowballing to update secondary studies. Method: Six updates were performed using forward snowballing with support from two electronic databases, one specific (IEEE Xplore) and the other generic (Google Scholar) and three combinations were evaluated to obtain new evidence during secondary studies updating: (1) searching using Google Scholar as electronic database; (2) searching using IEEE Xplore as electronic database; and (3) searching using both, IEEE Xplore and Google Scholar as complementary electronic databases. Results: The use of a specific electronic database is not indicated for forward snowballing application to update SLRs, since many relevant studies may not be identified. However, the use of a generic database is sufficient to discover the majority of the studies. Conclusions: The emergent contribution of our work to the body of knowledge in the SLR field is to add empirical evidence regarding the use of different electronic databases to support forward snowballing application during secondary studies updates. These results should help reviewers when they decide to find evidences to update their SLRs.

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