Conducting a Systematic Review

A systematic review is a type of research study that collects, analyzes, and synthesizes all evidence addressing one specific topic using a standardized, methodological approach. The goal is to identify and summarize the existing evidence, identify patterns and gaps in the research, and help answer a well-defined research question. 

The standardized methodology includes the following steps: 

1. Clearly defined research question including objectives, justification, and inclusion/exclusion criteria.

2. Comprehensive, broad, and reproducible literature search to identify all research. 

3. Following predefined guidelines for inclusion and exclusion criteria for two rounds of screening. 

4. Critical appraisal of included studies. 

5. Data extraction and synthesis. 

6. Writing the systematic review. 

Many of the steps above are described in much further detail in the tabs on the right side of this guide. This guide is designed to walk you through how to conduct a systematic review at Saint Mary's University.  

Scholars will conduct a systematic review for many different reasons. A few of the commonly cited motivations are listed below: 

• To reduce bias in the literature by using a structured and transparent methodology. 
• To help inform practice and/or policy. 
• To identify gaps in knowledge and help drive future research. 

Many different review types are methodologically driven. A systematic review focuses on a very specific question and attempts to draw together all of the literature addressing that question. Below are a few additional review types that deviate in some way from a systematic review. 

• Scoping Review - aims to review a broader area of literature and usually does not engage in the quality assessment.
• Rapid Review - aims to synthesize evidence quickly. Many of the same steps and features of a systematic review are present, but there are explicit limitations because it is time-bound.
• Meta-Analysis - aims to statistically combine study results. Usually, a meta-analysis will start with a systematic review and take it a step further to statistically combine similar results.