A Comprehensive Guide to Performing a Systematic Literature Review: Breaking Down the 6 Essential Steps to Successfully Execute a Systematic Review
In the realm of academic research, conducting a systematic literature review is a meticulous process that requires adherence to best practices to ensure the reliability and validity of the findings. Here's an overview of the key steps involved in this process, from search strategies to reporting, and the tools that can help streamline the process.
## Search Strategies
A comprehensive approach to searching for relevant studies is essential. This often involves using multiple databases, such as Cochrane's recommendation of at least three. Collaborating with librarians can help develop a comprehensive search strategy, incorporating appropriate keywords and search terms. It's also crucial to document the search strategy, allowing it to be replicated if necessary.
## Study Selection
The study selection process should be guided by clear inclusion and exclusion criteria, based on study type, quality, and relevance to the research question. Using more than one reviewer to screen abstracts and full-text articles independently can help reduce bias.
## Data Extraction
Standardized data extraction forms should be used to gather relevant data from the selected studies. This data typically includes outcomes, study design, and methods. Documenting all data extraction steps is essential to maintain transparency and reproducibility.
## Reporting
Following established reporting guidelines, such as the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), ensures transparency in reporting. A clear and detailed description of the search strategy, study selection process, data extraction methods, and results should be provided. Including a quality assessment of the included studies is also crucial for informing the interpretation of findings.
## Additional Best Practices
Registering the review protocol before starting the review helps prevent duplication and ensures transparency. Collaborating with a team of experts, including subject matter experts, librarians, and statisticians, can enhance the review's quality and reduce bias. Using a citation management system can help organize references and ensure consistency.
In the digital age, systematic review management software can facilitate collaboration between multiple researchers, track the status of the review, and help maintain high standards of transparency and rigor. Only studies meeting specific quality benchmarks should be included in the systematic literature review, and the search should be comprehensive but well-defined to focus on the most relevant studies and reduce the overall volume of data.
When synthesizing evidence from lower-quality studies, it's important to explain the impact of study quality on the overall findings. Sensitivity analyses can help determine how the inclusion or exclusion of low-quality studies affects the final conclusions of the systematic literature review. Inconsistent or poor-quality studies should be critically appraised, and studies with poor quality should be reported but noted as having limitations.
The discussion section interprets the results and places them in the context of the current literature. The implications of the results for practice, policy, and future research are discussed. The quantity and quality of literature included in the review are discussed to assess the overall strength of the evidence base. The systematic literature review should define the research question and scope in the introduction.
In conclusion, following best practices and utilising tools such as systematic review management software can help streamline the process of conducting a systematic literature review, ensuring the reliability and validity of the findings.
Education and self-development can be enhanced through online-learning platforms that provide resources for literature review writing. These platforms often offer guided processes, tools, and repositories of studies, making it easier to conduct a systematic literature review. Learning from the best practices outlined in this overview, such as utilizing comprehensive search strategies, standardized data extraction forms, and replicable study selection processes, can help improve the quality and rigor of the findings in a literature review.
