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Systematic Literature Reviews

This guide can be used by upper division and graduate students working on completing a systematic literature review.

What is a Systematic Literature Review?

Four students studying in the LibraryA systematic review is a thorough compilation and analysis of all known evidence on a given subject. Systematic reviews are great sources of information about current best practices, results of clinical trials, and much more.  

In order to be formally recognized by publishers and repositories, a systematic review must include the following elements:

  • A clearly defined research question and protocol
  • Evidence of a rigorous and systematic search process
  • Inclusion and exclusion criteria
  • Data extraction and management
  • Critical appraisal and bias assessment of all included studies.
  • Analysis and interpretation of results
  • Report for publication

Ask your instructor if you're not sure what elements you need to include in your systematic review.

There are multiple kinds of systematic reviews to choose from, depending on the size of the team, the scope of the research question, and the type of methodology used.

Common Types of Systematic Reviews

Type Description Searching Appraisal Synthesis Analysis
Literature Review Generic term. Includes published materials that provide an examination of current literature. Can cover a wide range of subjects at various levels of completeness and comprehensiveness. May include research findings. May or may not include comprehensive searching May or may not include quality assessment Typically narrative Chronological, conceptual, thematic, etc.
Systematic Review Seeks to systematically search for, appraise and synthesize research evidence, often adhering to guidelines on the conduct of a review. Aims for exhaustive, comprehensive searching Quality assessment may determine inclusion/exclusion Typically narrative with tabular accompaniment What is known, recommendations for practice, what remains unknown, uncertainty around findings, recommendations for future research
Meta-analysis Technique that statistically combines the results of quantitative studies to provide a more precise effect of the results. Aims for exhaustive searching. May use funnel plot to assess completeness. Quality assessment may determine inclusion/exclusion and/or sensitivity analyses. Graphical and tabular with narrative commentary Numerical analysis of measures of effect assuming absence of heterogeneity
Scoping Review Preliminary assessment of potential size and scope of available research literature. Aims to identify the nature and extent of research evidence (usually including ongoing research). Completeness of searching determined by time/scope constraints. May include research in progress. No formal quality assessment. Typically tabular with some narrative commentary. Characterizes quantity and quality of literature, perhaps by study design and other key features. Attempts to specify a viable review.

Adapted from Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: An analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 26(2), 91-108. DOI: 10.1111/J.1471-1842.2009.00848.X

Systematic Review Process Overview

Infographic illustrating the process of creating a systematic review starting with determining the question, creating a plan, searching, synthesizing, analyzing, and sharing results.Systematic reviews can often take months to a full year to complete but the basic process involves:

  1. Preparation
    1. Select a team
    2. Develop a research question
    3. Select a type of systematic review that fits the question, size of the team, and amount of time available to do the work.
  2. Searching for sources
    1. Develop inclusion and exclusion criteria
    2. Identify databases to search
    3. Develop searches 
    4. Record searches
  3. Extracting data
    1. Quality/bias assessment
    2. Remove duplicate results
  4. Synthesize and analyze data
  5. Report the team's findings

Image source: https://mcw.libguides.com/systematic-reviews/process

Getting Started with Systematic Reviews

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