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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 March 2020
Typical questions
• Where can I find examples of published reviews?
• Are there any standards for protocols?
Starting points
• A systematic review is a particular method of literature review characterised by collecting all (as far as possible!) of the literature about a specific topic, using a rigorous systematic method. It is widely used in scientific/medical subject areas. Some libraries have specialist staff who can help with this. This chapter offers general advice on the type of support a library can offer. Academic advisers should be consulted on assessing and evaluating the appropriateness of academic content.
• Systematic reviews require time, expertise and resources to complete properly. Always advise students to check if they need to complete this type of review. The Research Methods chapter offers resources on choosing an appropriate method of research. In many cases, a thorough or rapid evidence literature assessment may suffice!
• Systematic reviewers need to spend time devising a protocol. This describes the rationale and planned methods of the review. Support often needs to be provided in finding examples of completed reviews that contain examples and in identifying which databases/websites to search. Searching of databases needs to be undertaken in a systematic, documented way. Keyword search terms should be constructed for individual databases using advanced search features and thesauri (where available). Librarians may need to advise on the best methods for constructing terms and filtering results. The Literature Searching chapter offers further advice on this. The final area of help is in managing and exporting results. The sources listed in the Reference Management chapter are useful here.
Recommended resources
Study guides
Use these resources to get definitions of systematic reviews, advice on conducting reviews and detailed examples. Many also provide training services.
Campbell Collaboration
www.campbellcollaboration.org/research-resources/writing-a-campbellsystematic- review.html
The Collaboration is an international research network that specialises in systematic reviews of the effects of social policy interventions in areas including crime and justice, education, international development and social welfare. Its website is an invaluable resource for social scientists who intend to conduct a review as it includes advice and a set of guidelines.
Cochrane Handbooks
training.cochrane.org/handbooks
Often regarded as the ‘gold standard’ for researchers.
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