Searching smarter, not harder: leveraging AI to enhance literature searches for theory-driven reviews—A methodological case study

Background

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into literature searching has the potential to enhance research synthesis by improving the identification of conceptually rich or otherwise difficult-to-locate evidence. Theoretical or conceptual literature reviews, including realist reviews, often involve resource-intensive searches because they aim to trace nuanced ideas, mechanisms, or conceptual relationships across multiple sources. This case study illustrates the use of AI-powered tools to support and streamline such literature searching, using a realist review as an example.

Methods

We applied AI tools—Scite and Undermind—in the context of a realist review to facilitate the identification of relevant studies. Seed papers and key informant papers guided the search, and a novel classification system (grandparent, parent, and child papers) was used to systematically organise studies for developing and refining theoretical constructs. Transparent screening procedures and decision-making frameworks were employed to ensure methodological rigour and reproducibility.

Results

The integration of AI tools supported the retrieval of conceptually relevant literature and helped manage complex datasets. The classification system enabled structured organisation of studies, supporting iterative testing and refinement of theoretical constructs. The workflow demonstrated flexibility and adaptability, suggesting potential applicability beyond realist review.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that AI-powered tools can support literature searching, particularly in identifying conceptually relevant studies. However, these tools do not replace the critical interpretive work required by researchers. Human judgement remains essential to assess relevance, evaluate nuanced concepts, and make informed decisions throughout the search process, with AI serving as a valuable adjunct rather than a substitute.