Types of Reviews
Literature Review
Collects key sources on a topic and discusses those sources in conversation with each other
- Standard for research articles in most disciplines
- Tells the reader what is known, or not known, about a particular issue, topic, or subject
- Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of a topic
- Establishes context or background for a case or argument
- Helps develop the author’s ideas and perspective
Rapid Review
Thorough methodology but with process limitations in place to expeditethe completion of a review.
- For questions that require timely answers
- 3-4 months vs. 12-24 months
- Limitations - scope, comprehensiveness bias, and quality of appraisal
- Discusses potential effects that the limited methods may have had on results
Scoping Review
Determine the scope or coverage of a body of literature on a given topic and give clear indication of the volume of literature and studies available as well as an overview of its focus.
- Identify types of available evidence in a given field
- Clarify key concepts/definitions in the literature
- Examine how research is conducted on a certain topic or field
- Identify key factors related to a concept
- Precursor to a systematic review
- Key difference is focus
- Identify and analyze knowledge gaps
Systematic Review
Attempts to identify, appraise, and summarize all empirical evidence that fits pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question.
- clearly defined question with inclusion/exclusion criteria
- rigorous and systematic search of the literature
- thorough screening of results
- data extraction and management
- analysis and interpretation of results
- risk of bias assessment of included studies
Meta-Analysis
Used to systematically synthesize or merge the findings of single, independent studies, using statistical methods to calculate an overall or ‘absolute’ effect.
- Combines results from multiple empirical studies
- Requires systematic review first
- Use well recognized, systematic methods to account for differences in sample size, variability (heterogeneity) in study approach and findings (treatment effects)
- Test how sensitive their results are to their own systematic review protocol