How are systematic reviews different from literature reviews?
Literature reviews provide a broad overview of a research topic, while systematic reviews use rigorous search protocols to gain an understanding of all the literature on a particular topic in a way that is easily replicable.
What is a scoping review?
A scoping review is a preliminary assessment that maps the available evidence on a specific research question or topic. It aims to identify key concepts, sources, and gaps in the literature. The review can inform future research by providing a broad overview of existing knowledge and highlighting areas where further investigation is needed.
What is a meta-analysis review?
A meta-analysis review uses statistical methods to summarize the findings from related literature to derive conclusions about the body of research. In a meta-analysis review, researchers gather data from various studies that have investigated the same or related hypotheses, and then pool and analyze the data as if it were from a single large study.
Systematic reviews are a meticulous approach to reviewing and summarizing existing research on a specific topic. Unlike traditional literature reviews that may rely on selective sources, systematic reviews use a transparent and replicable methodology to identify, analyze, and synthesize all relevant studies available on a specific subject.
The process of conducting a systematic review involves defining a clear research question, developing a comprehensive search strategy, screening and selecting studies based on predefined criteria, extracting data, and synthesizing the findings to draw meaningful conclusions. By following this process, systematic reviews aim to minimize bias and provide an objective overview of the existing data.
Systematic reviews are often used in healthcare and medicine to assess the effectiveness of treatments or interventions, but their applications extend to various disciplines, including social sciences, education, economics, and more.
Map adapted from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library's simplified process map.
