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Social Work

Resources for counseling,social problems, social reform, marriage & family, social welfare, public welfare

Documenting Searches

Enable discovery: Use a reporting standard

As with all research, the value of literature reviews depends on what was done, what was found, and the clarity of reporting. As with other publications, the reporting quality of reviews varies. If not reported precisely, readers may not be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of those reviews. Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta-Analys (PRISMA) was created to addresses the suboptimal reporting of the most authoritative review type, meta-analyses and other studies that evaluate the effects of health interventions, irrespective of the design of the included studies and can be used for social or educational interventions. 

Page M J, McKenzie J E, Bossuyt P M, Boutron I, Hoffmann T C, Mulrow C D et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews BMJ 2021; 372 :n71 doi:10.1136/bmj.n71

PRISMA for Searching (PRISMA-Search)
The PRISMA extension for searching was published in 2021 and established a standard for literature search reporting. The checklist includes 16 items, each of which is detailed with exemplar reporting and rationale.

Citation Styles

Citations Made Easy with Zotero

Zotero

Use Zotero to generate accurate citations and quick bibliographies. Get started with these videos:

Do you need a specialized citation style beyond APA, Chicago, or MLA? Check out Zotero's Style Repository for specialized formats.

The Libraries provide workshops to get you started using Zotero. Check the workshop calendar for times and locations.

Need more citation help? Check out the Purdue Online Writing Lab for assistance with citing APA, MLA and Chicago.

George Mason University Writing Center

The Writing Center

The Writing Center offers free writing support to Mason students, faculty and staff. Accomplished graduate and undergraduate students provide face-to-face tutoring, online tutoring, and workshops. They work with writers through all stages of the writing process from brainstorming and organizing to revising and polishing. To meet with a Writing Center tutor please schedule a virtual or face-to-face appointment.

ESL students who would like additional assistance can apply for the Writing Center's Opt-In Program.