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Systematic Reviews & Evidence Synthesis

Picking a Review Type

Select a type of evidence synthesis project based on

  • the goals of your project,
  • available resources to meet methodological guidelines,
  • existing data quality and quantity, and
  • other similar objective reasons.

The term "Systematic Review" has become very trendy in scholarly publishing and academia, but a systematic review is a very specific methodology that might not match your project!

Tools for Review Type Selection

Chart - Project Goal, Methods Needed, and Review Type

Evidence synthesis types by goal, methods needed to meet that goal, and review type that indicates (text verson under development)

Matching Goal to Review Type

Goal Review Type
To present the state of research on a particular intervention, practice, program, policy, process, material, or other narrow question

State of the Art Review

To summarize the existing literature in an area with a particular focus on foundational or seminal scholarship, recent changes is the field, or on making an argument for a specific theory/framework. Traditional literature review
To identify (and categorize) all available theories, frameworks, measurement/diagnostic tools, research types, variables, concept definitions, etc on a topic Scoping review
To comprehensively characterize and describe the current state of the literature on a new or developing concept, practice, theory, framework, or area of inquiry. Scoping review
To comprehensively map the current characteristics and state of the literature in a broad area, often in a visual format using data visualization tools. Mapping Review
To comprehensively examine a question, topic, or situation using both quantitative and qualitative evidence, especially for making a recommendation towards policy, or theory/framework development. Integrative review
To comprehensively identify and asses the quality of the evidence for a very specific situation (population, intervention/exposure/comparison, outcome, context) in order to provide an evidence based recommendation for practice or policy. Systematic review

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