Skip to Main Content

Literature Reviews

Systematic Literature Reviews

Systematic Literature Reviews

A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is a rigorous and comprehensive method of reviewing existing research on a specific topic or question. Here are the key characteristics of an SLR:

  • Focused research question: An SLR addresses a clearly formulated, specific research question.
  • Systematic and explicit methodology: It follows a pre-defined, transparent, and reproducible protocol for searching, selecting, and analyzing studies.
  • Comprehensive search: SLRs aim to identify all relevant studies on the topic through a thorough search of multiple databases and sources.
  • Predefined eligibility criteria: Clear inclusion and exclusion criteria are established to determine which studies will be included in the review.
  • Critical appraisal: The quality and relevance of included studies are systematically evaluated.
  • Synthesis of findings: Results from multiple studies are combined and analyzed to answer the research question.
  • Transparent reporting: The entire process, including methods, search strategies, and results, is documented in detail.
  • Multiple reviewers: SLRs often involve more than one researcher to increase objectivity and reliability.
  • Time and resource-intensive: Conducting an SLR typically requires considerable time and effort.
  • Evidence-based decision making: SLRs are used to inform research, policy, and practice by providing a comprehensive summary of the available evidence on a topic.

Systematic Literature Reviews differ from traditional literature reviews in their rigorous methodology, comprehensive approach, and focus on minimizing bias. They are particularly common in medical and health sciences but are increasingly used in other fields to provide high-quality evidence syntheses.

 

Sources:

University College London (2024) Systematic reviews. Available at: https://library-guides.ucl.ac.uk/systematic-reviews/what (Accessed: 30 July 2024).

Elsevier Author Services (2024) Systematic Literature Review or Literature Review? Available at: https://scientific-publishing.webshop.elsevier.com/research-process/systematic-literature-review-or-literature-review/ (Accessed: 30 July 2024).

 

Further Reading: