Writing a systematic literature review is a demanding and intricate process that requires a meticulous

approach to research and analysis. This type of review is not just about summarizing existing studies;
it involves a comprehensive search of literature to identify, evaluate, and synthesize all relevant
research on a particular topic. The aim is to provide a clear and unbiased overview of the current
state of research, highlighting gaps in knowledge and areas for further investigation.

The complexity of writing a systematic literature review stems from several factors. First, it requires
a well-defined research question and the development of a structured search strategy to ensure that
all relevant studies are identified. This often involves searching multiple databases, using specific
keywords and inclusion/exclusion criteria, and may also include manual searches of reference lists to
find studies that database searches might miss.

Second, the process demands a critical appraisal of the identified studies to assess their quality and
relevance. This involves evaluating the methodology of each study, the reliability of the findings, and
the potential for bias. Such an evaluation is crucial to ensure that the conclusions drawn from the
review are based on high-quality evidence.

Third, synthesizing the findings from multiple studies is a complex task. It requires the reviewer to
identify patterns, themes, and discrepancies among the study results and to interpret these in the
context of the research question. This often involves quantitative methods, such as meta-analysis, or
qualitative approaches, depending on the nature of the data.

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Scholars who conduct systematic reviews register their research protocols in advance to clearly state
the literature search strategy, rules for including and excluding studies, and a plan for the analysis.
One study result is described and plotted per row, and the overall effect (i.e., the “pooled” or “meta”
effect) of all the studies is displayed at the bottom. Some systematic reviews include a meta-
analysis, which is quantitative technique for combining the results of multiple studies to estimate a
pooled effect size that takes variations in study size and quality into consideration. The relative risk
is 0.39, which means that malaria chemoprevention is associated with a 61% decrease in parasitemia.
Most systematic searches specify several, if not many, criteria regarding which studies to include or
exclude. In essence, a well-crafted literature review informs and elevates your research, ensuring its
relevance and impact within your academic field. It is beneficial when examining how different
theories contribute to the understanding of a phenomenon. She is majorly involved in developing
and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Carefully edit to ensure
logical argument flow and concise writing. Yet, if you find yourself facing challenges or needing
additional support, our expert essay writing service is here for you. Conclusion: Summarize what you
discovered, highlight any important contributions, and suggest areas for future research. For this
reason, most systematic reviews are conducted by teams, given the large scope of the data initially
collected for most research topics. How do you pick the important stuff from a bunch of studies and
tell a clear story that makes a difference. Using relevant keywords and phrases in your search is
essential, experimenting with diverse combinations for a thorough collection of relevant sources.
These preregistration plans include a specific search strategy using specific search terms for
individual scholarly databases so other researchers can recreate the search. The goal of a systematic
review is to be comprehensive and to include every relevant article. Our team is ready to provide
expert guidance, ensuring you craft a strong and effective literature review. Importantly, both
inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria must be clearly outlined when a systematic review is
undertaken. Heterogeneity means diversity (and is the opposite of homogeneity). In systematic
reviews, specific details are extracted from every study included, such as numbers of participants,
methods, analysis techniques, and key outcomes. The choice between a chronological, thematic,
theoretical, or methodological approach depends on the nature of your topic and the goals of your
review. As with most journal articles, Cochrane reviews begin with an Abstract and a Plain language
summary, which can be helpful for newcomers to a the topic. They serve as an objective,
comprehensive review of a particular topic, which, due to a standardized process, should be
completely reproducible. Figure 3.3: Malaria chemoprevention for pregnant women living in endemic
areas. The 95% confidence interval is very large and crosses 1. A small number of high quality
studies with a low risk of bias is preferable to lots of poorly reported or conducted studies. For
instance, the intervention may work differently in different contexts, and the included studies were
gathered from all over the world. Aids in Forming Research Questions: Helps shape precise and
meaningful research questions, building on existing theories. Literature reviews can usually be
conducted by a single person rather than a team.
Data abstraction will involve pulling data elements from the individual studies. Figure 3.4: Drugs for
preventing malaria in pregnancy: conceptual framework. It is useful when emphasizing the
methodologies used by researchers and their implications for the findings. Figure 3.3: Malaria
chemoprevention for pregnant women living in endemic areas. The risk of antenatal parasitemia is
286 events per every 1,000 people. Demonstrate how each piece of research contributes to the
overall understanding of your chosen topic. As a previous Ontario Graduate Scholar, he has applied
his accolades as a teaching assistant and has become a research associate in the department of
surgery at Hamilton Health Sciences. These details should look familiar from the summary of results
table. Additionally, verify the accuracy and consistency of citations and references based on the
chosen citation style (e.g., APA, MLA). This comprehensive revision process guarantees a polished
and well-structured literature review. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. Bias
is a topic we will come to in a later chapter, but for now you can think of bias as anything that
systematically takes us away from the “truth”. Thematic Approach This approach categorizes your
review based on themes or key concepts related to your topic. Most systematic reviews preregister
the research plan, meaning that the authors submit their planned methods to a registry like
PROSPERO prior to conducting the study. In such a case, it might not make sense to attempt to
determine one overall meta effect size from a comparison of the studies. Now equipped with the
essential steps to start your literature review, you're set on the right path. Most systematic searches
specify several, if not many, criteria regarding which studies to include or exclude. The results of a
meta-analysis are typically summarized in a forest plot like the one shown in Figure 3.7. Let’s take a
look at this helpful guide from Ried ( 2006 ) that breaks it all down. This process is more ad hoc for
literature reviews. Values greater than 75% may indicate that a change in the meta-analysis method
(random vs fixed effects) is needed. The Significance of an Effective Literature Review A strong
review plays a crucial role in research papers, offering several key advantages: Serves Context and
Relevance: It provides background and context for your research, showing its importance within
existing knowledge. Conclusion: Summarize what you discovered, highlight any important
contributions, and suggest areas for future research. Identifying gaps allows you to position your
work as a valuable contribution to the field. Check out the theories, models, and methods used in the
research. We'll show you how to make this tough task simpler. These preregistration plans include a
specific search strategy using specific search terms for individual scholarly databases so other
researchers can recreate the search. A good appendix is a treasure trove of information. Some
systematic reviews include a meta-analysis, which is quantitative technique for combining the results
of multiple studies to estimate a pooled effect size that takes variations in study size and quality into
consideration. In systematic reviews, specific details are extracted from every study included, such
as numbers of participants, methods, analysis techniques, and key outcomes. She is majorly involved
in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Example:
If reviewing the development of technology in the last decade, you might organize your sections
based on each year or significant milestones.
Critical Analysis Don't just summarize, but critically evaluate each source. Offers Methodological
Guidance: Helps choose appropriate research methods for quality outcomes. Also, make sure the
sources are trustworthy and come from respected places. We'll show you how to make this tough
task simpler. Step 6: Edit and Proofread In the final phase, conduct a thorough review, focusing on
clarity and coherence. On March 30, 2016, Andrew Duong taught a seminar to students at the
Michael DeGroote School of Medicine on the 6 Steps of the Systematic Review Process. An
annotated bibliography might suffice for a literature review. It is suitable when your topic has a clear
historical development or when you want to showcase the evolution of ideas over time. Thematic
Organization Group related studies by themes rather than chronology. Make sure you don't just stick
to one type of source. These details should look familiar from the summary of results table. Specify
the time frame, key themes, and relevant studies to focus your research. As we move forward in the
book, we’ll consider why a study like Villegas et al. ( 2007 ) was judged to have a low risk of bias
across all dimensions, where as a study like Cot et al. ( 1995 ) was classified as having a high risk of
bias and flagged for not providing enough information. Does it really match up with what you're
trying to find out. One inclusion criteria might be that assignment to study arms had to be random;
an exclusion criteria might be all studies without a control arm that used a placebo. Carefully edit to
ensure logical argument flow and concise writing. This is the pooled, or “meta,” effect size from an
included meta-analysis (we’ll come to meta-analysis shortly). We don’t know if it prevents maternal
deaths, as this would require very large studies to detect an effect. Each study’s point estimate of the
relative risk is plotted around a line of “no effect.” A risk of 1 means that there is no difference
between the intervention and control groups. Ensure that your ideas flow logically, and use clear
language to communicate complex concepts. The rows represent each study included in the review,
and the columns indicate the review authors’ determination about potential bias in each study. All
point estimates fall to the left of the line of no effect ( 1 would mean the risk was higher among the
intervention group, thus favoring the control group (with no treatment). In systematic reviews,
specific details are extracted from every study included, such as numbers of participants, methods,
analysis techniques, and key outcomes. It is useful when emphasizing the methodologies used by
researchers and their implications for the findings. Most systematic reviews preregister the research
plan, meaning that the authors submit their planned methods to a registry like PROSPERO prior to
conducting the study. The 95% confidence interval is very large and crosses 1. Values greater than
75% may indicate that a change in the meta-analysis method (random vs fixed effects) is needed.
Crafting a literature review is a strategic process encompassing various vital steps to ensure a
comprehensive and coherent review. Criteria may include factors relating to the population, the
intervention, the type of study and the outcome. I’m talking about systematic reviews and meta-
analyses.
This registration informs other researchers that a group is working on a certain area of study, which
can discourage duplicate research efforts that may, therefore, fail to be published. The purpose of this
section is to provide enough detail to enable other researchers to replicate the review. We'll show you
how to make this tough task simpler. It is just as important to identify gaps in knowledge, as this will
inform future areas of research. Each study’s point estimate of the relative risk is plotted around a
line of “no effect.” A risk of 1 means that there is no difference between the intervention and control
groups. Consequently, the weight of this study is only 6.7%, which is lower than the others.
Example: In a review of psychological studies on memory, sections could be organized around
cognitive, behavioral, and neuroscientific theories. Criteria may include factors relating to the
population, the intervention, the type of study and the outcome. Make sure you don't just stick to
one type of source. When the outcome is something bad, like death, the intervention should be
designed to reduce the risk, which is represented by a risk ratio less than 1. Some systematic reviews
include a meta-analysis, which is quantitative technique for combining the results of multiple studies
to estimate a pooled effect size that takes variations in study size and quality into consideration.
When this interval crosses the line of no effect, the effect could be null or could even run in the
opposite direction. It’s a good idea to do the same for a literature review, even if not a strict
requirement. This process is more ad hoc for literature reviews. A good appendix is a treasure trove
of information. Uncover connections and relationships among diverse research pieces to construct a
cohesive narrative within your literature review. Understand the Basics Figure out the main ideas and
how they're explained. The Significance of an Effective Literature Review A strong review plays a
crucial role in research papers, offering several key advantages: Serves Context and Relevance: It
provides background and context for your research, showing its importance within existing
knowledge. The relative risk is 0.39, which means that malaria chemoprevention is associated with a
61% decrease in parasitemia. Data abstraction will involve pulling data elements from the individual
studies. All point estimates fall to the left of the line of no effect ( 1 would mean the risk was higher
among the intervention group, thus favoring the control group (with no treatment). Aids in Forming
Research Questions: Helps shape precise and meaningful research questions, building on existing
theories. Promotes Theory Development: Evaluates and combines existing theories, possibly leading
to new ones. Starting with a systematic review pays off almost every time one is available. Carefully
edit to ensure logical argument flow and concise writing. Do the confidence intervals from each
study form a vertical column, even if the point estimates shift between them. Identify Gaps Highlight
areas where existing research falls short. The results of a meta-analysis are typically summarized in a
forest plot like the one shown in Figure 3.7. Let’s take a look at this helpful guide from Ried ( 2006
) that breaks it all down. Step 2: Analyze and Select Sources In the second phase of your research, it
is essential to carefully evaluate and select sources that directly contribute to your research question.
In addition, the research team formally assesses the quality of each study, including the potential for
bias, and these assessments are considered when the results are synthesized.
An annotated bibliography might suffice for a literature review. Nova has also worked as a technical
and scientific writer. The name lagged behind, appearing first in 1996, apparently referring to the
tree-line optics typical of most forest plots. As a previous Ontario Graduate Scholar, he has applied
his accolades as a teaching assistant and has become a research associate in the department of
surgery at Hamilton Health Sciences. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online
content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Think about why this is important for your
research. Most systematic searches specify several, if not many, criteria regarding which studies to
include or exclude. Now equipped with the essential steps to start your literature review, you're set
on the right path. Our team is ready to provide expert guidance, ensuring you craft a strong and
effective literature review. It allows for a comprehensive exploration of various aspects without
being bound by a strict timeline. Engage in Dialogue Frame your literature review as a conversation
with other scholars. After obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Genetics, he earned a Master of
Science in Microbiology from the Michael DeGroote Institute of Infectious Disease Research at
McMaster University. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. Step 6: Edit and
Proofread In the final phase, conduct a thorough review, focusing on clarity and coherence.
Literature reviews can usually be conducted by a single person rather than a team. We don’t know if
it prevents maternal deaths, as this would require very large studies to detect an effect. See how this
publication links up with what's already out there. Methodological Approach This approach centers
on the research methods employed in various studies related to your topic. Understand the Basics
Figure out the main ideas and how they're explained. Example: If reviewing literature on climate
change, themes could include the impact on ecosystems, societal responses, and mitigation strategies.
Addresses Research Gaps: Identifies areas where more knowledge is needed, guiding your
contributions. So, whatever part of the research paper you need help with, we will deliver. Radeva-
Petrova et al. ( 2014 ) summarized the problem of malaria during pregnancy, explained the
hypothesized mechanism by which chemoprevention prevents malaria, framed why this review is
important, and listed the objectives of the study. Each study’s point estimate of the relative risk is
plotted around a line of “no effect.” A risk of 1 means that there is no difference between the
intervention and control groups. The results of a meta-analysis are typically summarized in a forest
plot like the one shown in Figure 3.7. Let’s take a look at this helpful guide from Ried ( 2006 ) that
breaks it all down. If so, you might consider proposing a collaboration or modifying your aims. Your
second move should be to consult a clinical librarian or someone with experience conducting a
systematic review for tips on setting up your project. Reference and respond to existing research,
showcasing your awareness of ongoing academic discussions. One study result is described and
plotted per row, and the overall effect (i.e., the “pooled” or “meta” effect) of all the studies is
displayed at the bottom. In essence, a well-crafted literature review informs and elevates your
research, ensuring its relevance and impact within your academic field. Please take a moment and
use the link to the right to download and skim through the article.