Systematic Review Research Guide
by Anita Kuiken, Research Impact Team and Librarian for Falk College and Emily Hart, Science Librarian and Research Impact Lead
Are you thinking of completing a systematic review or other type of evidence synthesis research? We have a new Systematic Review research guide to help you.
What are systematic reviews? A systematic review is a comprehensive review of the literature conducted by a research team using systematic and transparent methods in accordance with reporting guidelines to answer a well-defined research question. It aims to identify and synthesize scholarly research published in commercial and/or academic sources as well as in grey (or gray) literature produced by individuals or organizations in order to reduce bias and provide all available evidence for informing practice and policymaking. Systematic reviews may also include a meta-analysis, a more quantitative process of synthesizing and visualizing data retrieved from various studies. They are one of the most rigorous research methods in evidence synthesis and are a common type of research in the sciences, medicine, and social sciences.
Librarians on the Research Impact Team have become versed in supporting this type of research, and this new guide helps share expertise and walk researchers through the process. The guide also introduces tools, resources, and services that can help researchers along the way.