A systematic review is a specific methodology via which researchers identify, appraise, and synthesise all relevant studies that meet pre-specified eligibility criteria to provide an unbiased and reliable assessment of current knowledge regarding a precise, clearly defined research question. The studies should represent empirical research, and other systematic reviews should not be included. The table in Grant and Booth (2009, pp. 94-95) outlines 14 types of review and the typical requirements of each. This may help you decided which review type is best suited to your project.
On some courses, you may have to write a systematic type review as your assessment for a module. Sometimes these are called a "review on systematic principles". If this is the case, you will receive specific guidance in your assessment brief and from your module tutor. In case of contradictions, assessment guidance should supersede any given here.
If you are considering using or adapting the systematic review methodology for your dissertation or independent study, you should check with your tutor whether it is a suitable approach before proceeding. Library Services' role is to guide you in developing your search strategy, completing a PRISMA flow diagram, and providing introductory sessions on using software to manage your review. Our Study Skills Live programme of online workshops has a range of sessions on the systematic review process and the tools to support it.
If you are a member of staff conducting a systematic review, you are also welcome to contact us for guidance. Prospective registration of your review protocol is recommended, following PRISMA-P guidelines.
Unlike a narrative literature review, a systematic review must include specific features:
You’ll need to detail where the search has been carried out; this means you must use specific databases, not Library Search. Your search should be as exhaustive as possible given the time available and the nature of your assignment/dissertation. A detailed search strategy should be provided. If you are carrying out a systematic review for publication, follow PRISMA-S guidelines for rationale and search reporting.
Specify the date range you searched - you may wish to justify the start date. You might choose to update an earlier, published systematic review. Alternatively, you could use the date of a relevant change in law or policy, or the publication date of a seminal paper.
You will use specific search terms to generate a list of records for potential inclusion in your review. You’ll also include or exclude other features of each report, such as
For a helpful introduction, see chapter 14 from Denscombe's book. If you’re studying social sciences, try Petticrew and Roberts’ book. Sport and Exercise students should use Tod's Conducting Systematic Reviews in Sport.
There are many checklists available, and we have only noted a few of the most commonly used here. CASP and JBI have a range of checklists for different study designs. EPHPP is an appraisal tool for quantitative studies, whilst PEDRO is used for randomised controlled trials, particularly in the field of physiotherapy. MMAT may be used for appraising mixed methods studies. We recommend discussing your choice of quality assessment tool with your tutor or supervisor before beginning your work.
Most systematic reviews follow Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
A systematic review should include a flow diagram, often as an appendix. The flow diagram reports the process of identifying records, removing duplicates, screening, and the final number of studies to be included in the review. It doesn't describe or inform the search strategy, or determine whether a study is included in the final review. Consider attending one of our Study Skills Live PRISMA sessions to find out more about completing the flow diagram.
You can download a PRISMA flow diagram template from the PRISMA website. There are four templates; which you use depends on whether you are completing a new review, or updating an existing one, and whether you are only searching databases/registers, or also including other sources.
PRISMA also has a checklist that’s helpful in ensuring you’ve covered everything.
This will depend on your course. Sometimes, supervisors or tutors agree that a student project will be a critical literature review, but using systematic principles. On this page, we’ve detailed what would be expected from a full systematic review. It is important that you agree with your tutor or supervisor what their expectations are, and the extent to which you will follow the process of a formal systematic review.
For example, you may set out clear search criteria and provide a PRISMA flow diagram, but might not formally screen papers for quality. The National Foundation for Educational Research has good examples of papers that use systematic principles. Search their research and publications for “literature review”.
The title of the paper should identify it as a systematic review. A good starting point is searching your chosen keywords AND "systematic review” in Library Search.
In some databases you can select “systematic review” in the “methodology” field.
There are also systematic review databases available, such as Cochrane Library, The Campbell Collaboration and Prospero. The EPPI-Centre website includes systematic reviews in social policy, including education, health and social care.
This will depend on your topic area. We recommend taking a look at your subject guide for recommended databases and taking advice from your tutor.
It’s worth noting that Library Search and Google Scholar are search engines, not databases.
Consider searching Google Scholar for the specific title you are looking for. You can also contact the lead (corresponding) author via email, ResearchGate, or Academia.edu, or place an inter library request
Look at our Study Skills Live page for upcoming searching workshops. You can also contact us via live chat or email, or get it touch with your Academic Liaison Librarian - they will be happy to help.
SR Accelerator allows you to quickly deduplicate your search results and screen your abstracts. Zotero or Mendeley can be used to manage your literature, store and annotate pdfs, and integrate with MS Word for referencing. We offer Study Skills Live sessions on SR Accelerator and Zotero.
Rayyan can also be used to manage the review process. Sign up is free, but a paid subscription is required for some of the more advanced features.