“…to find out about a healthcare intervention it is worth searching research literature thoroughly to see if the answer is already known. The average systematic review from beginning to end requires 18 months of work. It can help inform areas that are appropriate for a systematic review.Time: According to Cochrane, it takes 18 months on average to complete a Systematic Review. A systematic review can include a meta-analysis.Ī scoping review involves a broad research question that explores the current evidence base (Armstrong, Hall, Doyle, & Waters, 2011). They involve identifying similar studies and pooling their data to obtain a more accurate estimate of true effect size. Meta-analyses are 'the statistical integration of separate studies' ( Egger & Smith, 1997). See our Systematic Review Toolbox and Rayyan guides for more information on what they are and how to conduct one. Conducting a systematic review involves following rigorous, predefined protocols that 'minimise bias and ensure transparency' ( Glanville & McCool, n.d.). Systematic reviews synthesize high quality empirical information to answer a given research question ( The Cochrane Collaboration, n.d.). They may or may not be systematic reviews. Integrative reviews 'synthesize findings from different approaches, like experimental and non-experimental studies' ( Whittemore & Knafl, 2005).This approach allows for the integration of qualitative studies with quantitative studies. The rest of this guide will cover some basic steps to consider when conducting a traditional literature review. It helps explain why your study is important in the context of the literature, and can also help you identify areas that need further research.

Traditional (Narrative) Literature ReviewĪ traditional (narrative) literature review provides a quick overview of current studies.

Thanks to the Virginia Commonwealth University libraries for the contents of this guide. The other pages in this guide will cover some basic steps to consider when conducting a traditional health sciences literature review. They vary in terms of comprehensiveness, types of study included, and purpose.

There are many different types of literature reviews. A literature review provides an overview of what's been written about a specific topic.

Endnote literature review