Page 10 - GHES-1-2

Global Health Econ Sustain Self-directed learning supporting mental health

“self-directed learning, online learning, mental health, adaptation reflects those articles retrieved, along with
public schools, COVID-19.” Figure 1 illustrates the data established inclusion and exclusion criteria (Moher et al.,
gathered in this study, identified through a Google Scholar 2009). To illustrate the flow of information – demonstrating
search conducted on May 30, 2023. Google Scholar was the actual flow rather than merely the flow of remaining
chosen for its widespread use among academics despite its articles under consideration – the standard PRISMA chart
lower precision and limited support for systematic search has been adjusted by the author for the purpose of this
features (Gusenbauer & Haddaway, 2020). Based on our particular review.
assessment of Google Scholar returns, it is important to
clarify that this review neither classifies as a systematic The search of Google Scholar continued until all ten
review nor a scoping review (Page et al., 2021). Its results per page did not contain all the specified keywords.
primary objective is to provide examples of peer-reviewed This process required viewing 11 pages of returns, totaling
research pertaining to the predefined set of keywords. 110 distinct entries. All entries were subsequently copied
Nevertheless, for transparency in presenting the author’s to a Word document to identify duplicates, and none were
methodology for gathering materials, the author adapted found. To facilitate the assessment, a tab was opened in
the Standardized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic the Safari browser for each of the 11 pages. The abstract of
Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) flowchart. This each individual search result was examined to determine if

Google Scholar database search
Identification Pages searched until criteria were no longer met: 11
Searched parameter: “self-directed learning, online learning, mental health,
public schools, COVID-19”
Journal category: peer-reviewed
Search date: May 30, 2023

Duplicates (n = 0)
Screening Searched until page of 10 returns no longer Not in English (n = 3)
included at least one entry with the term’s
Not peer reviewed
keywords
(n = 17)
(n = 110)

No public schooling (n = 53)
Abstracts screened for title No students (n = 2)
relevancy (n = 90) No COVID-19 (n = 0)
Eligibility

Full text assessed for
eligibility (n = 35) No self-directed learning (n = 1)
No online learning (n = 1)
No mental health (n = 12)

Articles included (n = 21)

Included Self-directed learning
Negative responses:
(n = 9)
Positive responses: Online learning (n = 9)
Self-directed learning (n = 9) Mental health (n = 9)
Online learning (n = 9)
Mental health (n = 9)
Figure 1. The author-created flow of information (inspired by the PRISMA original diagram (Moher et al. 2009) for a Google Scholar search of the
parameter containing the keywords “self-directed learning, online learning, mental health, public schools, COVID-19,” conducted on May 30, 2023.
Arrows and information in blue represent the process and result of eliminating articles from consideration, respectively.

Volume 1 Issue 2 (2023) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1219