

Systematic reviews also provide decision-makers with synthesized, reliable information which can then be used in policy-making.
IN TEXT CITATION FOR SPSS VERSION 25 DRIVER
In this way, systematic reviews are an important driver of research. A well-conducted systematic review benefits the scientific community by providing a summary of existing evidence as well as identifying where knowledge is lacking. Systematic reviews aim to include all literature that is relevant to the review question, no matter the direction or significance of the result, thus reducing bias and improving our confidence in the conclusions. The approach taken is much like that used in a scientific experiment, with high priority given to the transparency (and reproducibility) of the methods used and to handling all evidence in a consistent manner. It is an improvement on a standard literature review as it uses systematic methods to search for, assess and combine the evidence. Systematic review is a powerful research tool which aims to identify and synthesize all evidence relevant to a research question. For the individual, undertaking a systematic review is also a great opportunity to improve skills in critical appraisal and in synthesising evidence. ConclusionĪ well-conducted systematic review benefits the scientific field by providing a summary of existing evidence and highlighting unanswered questions. Signposts to further information and useful resources are also given. DiscussionĪdvice is given on matters such as developing a review protocol, searching using databases and other methods, data extraction, risk of bias assessment and data synthesis including meta-analysis.
IN TEXT CITATION FOR SPSS VERSION 25 HOW TO
Here we set out in simple terms how to get started with a systematic review.

Those with no prior experience of systematic review may need considerable support and direction getting started with such a project. The approach taken is much like that used in a scientific experiment, with high priority given to the transparency and reproducibility of the methods used and to handling all evidence in a consistent manner.Įarly career researchers may find themselves in a position where they decide to undertake a systematic review, for example it may form part or all of a PhD thesis.
