What is a systematic review?
A systematic review is a comprehensive literature review conducted to answer a specific research question. Authors of a systematic review find, code, appraise, and synthesize all of the previous research concerning their question. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) outline the minimum amount of information that needs to be reported at the conclusion of a systematic review project. Other types of what are known as "evidence syntheses” include scoping, rapid, and umbrella reviews.
We can help!
University Libraries offers systematic review support to faculty, students, and staff. Specifically, we can provide:
- An overview of the best practices for conducting systematic reviews and other evidence syntheses in your discipline
- Guidance in selecting and formulating a research question
- Advice on which review type (e.g., systematic, scoping, rapid, etc.) to select
- Advice on what to include in and where to register a systematic review protocol
- Support choosing search terms and developing a search strategy
- Guidance selecting databases and platforms to search
- Assistance finding the full text of articles and other sources you’re planning to include in your review
- Training in the use of citation management software (e.g., EndNote, Zotero) and free article screening tools (e.g., Rayyan)
- Access to and training in the use of Covidence, a tool that aids with review management and collaboration
