The requirement for literature searches that identify studies for inclusion in systematic reviews should be systematic, explicit, and reproducible extends, at least by implication, to other types of literature review. However, realist reviews commonly require literature searches that challenge systematic reporting; searches are iterative and involve multiple search strategies and approaches. Notwithstanding these challenges, reporting of the “realist search” can be structured to be transparent and to facilitate identification of innovative retrieval practices. Our six‐component search framework consolidates and extends the structure advanced by Pawson, one of the originators of realist review: formulating the question, conducting the background search, searching for program theory, searching for empirical studies, searching to refine program theory and identifying relevant mid‐range theory, and documenting and reporting the search process. This study reviews reports of search methods in 34 realist reviews published within the calendar year of 2016. Data from all eligible reviews were extracted from the search framework. Realist search reports poorly differentiate between the different search components. Review teams often conduct a single “big bang” multipurpose search to fulfill multiple functions within the review. However, it is acknowledged that realist searches are likely to be iterative and responsive to emergent data. Overall, the search for empirical studies appears most comprehensive in conduct and reporting detail. In contrast, searches to identify and refine program theory are poorly conducted, if at all, and poorly reported. Use of this framework offers greater transparency in conduct and reporting while preserving flexibility and methodological innovation.

中文翻译：

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“现实主义的搜索”：对当前实践和报告的系统范围界定。

进行文献检索以识别纳入系统评价的研究的要求应该是系统的，明确的和可再现的，至少应暗示地扩展到其他类型的文献综述。但是，现实主义者的评论通常需要对系统报道进行挑战的文献检索；搜索是迭代的，涉及多种搜索策略和方法。尽管存在这些挑战，但“现实主义搜索”的报告可以构造为透明的，并有助于识别创新的检索方法。我们的六部分搜索框架巩固和扩展了现实主义评论的发起者之一鲍森（Pawson）提出的结构：提出问题，进行背景搜索，搜索程序理论，搜索经验研究，进行搜索以完善程序理论并确定相关的中档理论，并记录和报告搜索过程。这项研究对2016日历年内发布的34个现实主义者评论中的搜索方法报告进行了评论。所有符合条件的评论的数据均从搜索框架中提取。现实主义者的搜索报告很难区分不同的搜索组件。审阅团队通常会进行一次“大爆炸”多功能搜索，以履行审阅中的多项功能。但是，公认的是，现实主义搜索可能是迭代的，并且对涌现的数据做出响应。总体而言，对实证研究的搜寻似乎在行为和报告细节方面最为全面。相比之下，识别和完善程序理论的搜索（如果有的话）进行得很少，而且报告也很差。