What is a systematic review? A "high-level overview of primary research on a focused question" utilizing high-quality research evidence through:
Source: Kysh, Lynn (2013): Difference between a systematic review and a literature review. [figshare]. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.766364
|
Depending on your learning style, please explore the resources in various formats on the tabs above.
For additional tutorials, visit the SR Workshop Videos from UNC at Chapel Hill outlining each stage of the systematic review process.
Know the difference! Systematic review vs. literature review
It is common to confuse systematic and literature reviews as both are used to provide a summary of the existent literature or research on a specific topic. Even with this common ground, both types vary significantly. Please review the following chart (and its corresponding poster linked below) for a detailed explanation of each as well as the differences between each type of review. Source: Kysh, L. (2013). What’s in a name? The difference between a systematic review and a literature review and why it matters. [Poster]. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.766364. Questions? Check the website from UNC at Chapel Hill, What Type of Review is Right for you? |
Types of literature reviews along with associated methodologies
JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. Find definitions and methodological guidance.
- Systematic Reviews - Chapters 1-7
- Mixed Methods Systematic Reviews - Chapter 8
- Diagnostic Test Accuracy Systematic Reviews - Chapter 9
- Umbrella Reviews - Chapter 10
- Scoping Reviews - Chapter 11
- Systematic Reviews of Measurement Properties - Chapter 12
Systematic reviews vs scoping reviews -
Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26(2), 91–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x
Gough, D., Thomas, J., & Oliver, S. (2012). Clarifying differences between review designs and methods. Systematic Reviews, 1(28). https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-1-28
Munn, Z., Peters, M., Stern, C., Tufanaru, C., McArthur, A., & Aromataris, E. (2018). Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach. BMC medical research methodology, 18(1), 143. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0611-x. Also, check out the Libguide from Weill Cornell Medicine for the differences between a systematic review and a scoping review and when to embark on either one of them.
Sutton, A., Clowes, M., Preston, L., & Booth, A. (2019). Meeting the review family: Exploring review types and associated information retrieval requirements. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 36(3), 202–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12276
Temple University. Review Types. - This guide provides useful descriptions of some of the types of reviews listed in the above article.
UMD Health Sciences and Human Services Library. Review Types. - Guide describing Literature Reviews, Scoping Reviews, and Rapid Reviews.
Whittemore, R., Chao, A., Jang, M., Minges, K. E., & Park, C. (2014). Methods for knowledge synthesis: An overview. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 43(5), 453–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2014.05.014
Differences between a systematic review and other types of reviews
Armstrong, R., Hall, B. J., Doyle, J., & Waters, E. (2011). ‘Scoping the scope’ of a cochrane review. Journal of Public Health, 33(1), 147–150. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdr015
Kowalczyk, N., & Truluck, C. (2013). Literature reviews and systematic reviews: What is the difference? Radiologic Technology, 85(2), 219–222.
White, H., Albers, B., Gaarder, M., Kornør, H., Littell, J., Marshall, Z., Matthew, C., Pigott, T., Snilstveit, B., Waddington, H., & Welch, V. (2020). Guidance for producing a Campbell evidence and gap map. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 16(4), e1125. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1125. Check also this comparison between evidence and gaps maps and systematic reviews.
Rapid Reviews Tutorials
Rapid Review Guidebook by the National Collaborating Centre of Methods and Tools (NCCMT)
Hamel, C., Michaud, A., Thuku, M., Skidmore, B., Stevens, A., Nussbaumer-Streit, B., & Garritty, C. (2021). Defining Rapid Reviews: a systematic scoping review and thematic analysis of definitions and defining characteristics of rapid reviews. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 129, 74–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.09.041
Image: Get Inspired By These Examples by WeeblyTutorials |
Find Existing Systematic Reviews under the Searching the Literature tab on the left side menu. In addition, check the Public Health and Social Care module of Policy Commons for examples of systematic reviews of health, public health, and medical research. |
Videos on systematic reviews
This video lecture explains in detail the steps necessary to conduct a systematic review (44 min.) | Here's a brief introduction to how to evaluate systematic reviews (16 min.) |
Systematic Reviews: What are they? Are they right for my research? - 47 min. video recording with a closed caption option.
More training videos on systematic reviews:
Books on Systematic Reviews
Books on Meta-analysis
|
Research Tutorials from Other Libraries |
Guidelines for a systematic review as part of the dissertation
Further readings on experiences of PhD students and doctoral programs with systematic reviews
Puljak, L., & Sapunar, D. (2017). Acceptance of a systematic review as a thesis: Survey of biomedical doctoral programs in Europe. Systematic Reviews, 6(1), 253. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-017-0653-x
Perry, A., & Hammond, N. (2002). Systematic reviews: The experiences of a PhD Student. Psychology Learning & Teaching, 2(1), 32–35. https://doi.org/10.2304/plat.2002.2.1.32
Daigneault, P.-M., Jacob, S., & Ouimet, M. (2014). Using systematic review methods within a Ph.D. dissertation in political science: Challenges and lessons learned from practice. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 17(3), 267–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2012.730704
UMD Doctor of Philosophy Degree Policies
Before you embark on a systematic review research project, check the UMD PhD Policies to make sure you are on the right path. Systematic reviews require a team of at least two reviewers and an information specialist or a librarian. Discuss with your advisor the authorship roles of the involved team members. Keep in mind that the UMD Doctor of Philosophy Degree Policies (scroll down to the section, Inclusion of one's own previously published materials in a dissertation) outline such cases, specifically the following:
"It is recognized that a graduate student may co-author work with faculty members and colleagues that should be included in a dissertation. In such an event, a letter should be sent to the Dean of the Graduate School certifying that the student's examining committee has determined that the student made a substantial contribution to that work. This letter should also note that the inclusion of the work has the approval of the dissertation advisor and the program chair or Graduate Director. The letter should be included with the dissertation at the time of submission. The format of such inclusions must conform to the standard dissertation format. A foreword to the dissertation, as approved by the Dissertation Committee, must state that the student made substantial contributions to the relevant aspects of the jointly authored work included in the dissertation."
Image: Online Learning by CommLab India |
Online Tutorials |
Image: Guidelines by Vinova |
"How to" Readings |
Bioinformatics
Environmental Sciences
Collaboration for Environmental Evidence. 2018. Guidelines and Standards for Evidence synthesis in Environmental Management. Version 5.0 (AS Pullin, GK Frampton, B Livoreil & G Petrokofsky, Eds) www.environmentalevidence.org/information-for-authors.
Pullin, A. S., & Stewart, G. B. (2006). Guidelines for systematic review in conservation and environmental management. Conservation Biology, 20(6), 1647–1656. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00485.x
Engineering Education
Public Health
Social Sciences
Image: Typing by Day Translations |
Resources for your writing |