Basics of Systematic Reviews

A guide to evidence synthesis

Step 6: Assess the Quality of Included Studies (Bias Assessment)

After determining which studies will be included, your team will need to evaluate the evidence for its validity, relevance, and applicability.  This step involves using a quality assessment tool to check primary empirical studies for any flaws in methodology, as well as any other sources of bias.

Step 6a: Choose a Quality Assessment Tool

Also known as quality appraisal, critical appraisal, and risk of bias assessment, quality assessment tools are essentially questionnaires designed to help a research team assess the quality of various study designs.  The questionnaire will be customized to ask specific questions about the methodology of a study according to its category.  Appraisal tools exist for most types of study designs.  Be sure to select a quality assessment tool that aligns with the study types you anticipate will appear in your results.

You can find a repository of Quality Assessment Tools through OSF.  This sheet allows you to filter by study type and intended use: