03/06/2026 –, Morrice-Lismer-Leduc Langue: English
Introduction:
In 2021, we reported a proof-of-concept study which demonstrated that geographical location (where you sat) affected Google search results (what you see). Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to mimic the effect of geographic location, we were able to prove that a person based in Australia would see different Google search results to a person based in America.
Now we consider if using a VPN might be an effect modifier compared to searches conducted by humans, physically in those locations.
Methods:
We sampled five countries using the same search string. We compared the search results retrieved using a VPN concurrently with a live search conducted by a human at each location. .
Results: Results TBA at a later date.
Discussion/Conclusion: There is little guidance on the method of websearching, despite it being a recommended supplementary search method for systematic reviews. This study extends our previous work and will show if the use of VPN is reliable or not compared to a human searcher in the country of interest.
Zahra Premji is currently the Health Research Librarian at the University of Victoria, where she supports the public health, social dimensions of health, exercise & physical health education, and physical therapy programs. She is currently the co-chair for the CHLA Knowledge Synthesis Interest Group, and an information specialist with the Campbell Collaboration. Her research interests include information retrieval methods, especially in the context of evidence synthesis reviews.