Guide for a Structured Approach to Literature Review Techniques (6 Steps)
A systematic literature review is a structured and comprehensive approach to identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing relevant research studies on a specific topic or research question. This methodology offers several advantages, such as comprehensive search, unbiased selection, evidence synthesis, research gap identification, and evidence-based practice, among others.
The process for conducting a comprehensive and unbiased systematic literature review involves several structured stages designed to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and minimal bias. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the key steps:
1. Formulating a focused research question
The first step is to clearly define the research question(s) or objectives that the review aims to address. This question should be specific and answerable through evidence, often using frameworks like PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome).
2. Developing and registering a detailed review protocol
Before starting the review, it's essential to develop and register a detailed review protocol. This protocol outlines the objectives, criteria, and methods of the review, enhancing transparency and reducing bias.
3. Comprehensive and systematic searches
The next step is to conduct a comprehensive literature search across multiple bibliographic databases (e.g., MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycInfo) and grey literature sources (e.g., theses, clinical trials, unpublished reports) using reproducible search strategies to capture all relevant studies.
4. Screening and selecting studies
The study selection process involves two stages: an initial screening of titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text review of potentially relevant studies. At least two reviewers should be involved in this process to minimize selection bias, with pilot testing of eligibility criteria recommended to ensure consistency.
5. Assessing risk of bias and validity
Once the studies have been selected, it's crucial to assess the risk of bias and validity in included studies using standardized tools. Pilot tests of these assessments should be conducted to improve reliability.
6. Extracting data
Systematically extract relevant data from the included studies, often by multiple reviewers, with pilot-tested data collection forms to ensure completeness and accuracy.
7. Synthesizing results
The extracted data should be synthesized and analyzed using appropriate methods, depending on the nature of the research question(s) and the heterogeneity of the included studies.
8. Reporting the review findings
The synthesized evidence should be interpreted in the context of the research question(s) and objectives, taking into account the quality and limitations of the included studies, and reported in a clear and structured manner.
9. Involvement of a multi-person team
Involvement of a multi-person team is essential to reduce bias through collaborative decision-making and validation steps. Some journals require more than one author for a systematic review.
In rapidly evolving or emerging research areas, it may be necessary to periodically update the systematic literature review to incorporate new evidence as it becomes available.
The systematic literature review aims to minimize bias and provide a comprehensive overview of the existing evidence on a particular research question. Unlike traditional narrative literature reviews, systematic reviews follow explicit protocols, use transparent, reproducible methods, and aim to comprehensively identify and appraise all relevant studies to provide robust evidence for decision-making. However, it's important to note that this methodology can be time and resource-intensive.
- For a thorough systematic literature review on education-and-self-development, particularly online-education and learning, the initial step might involve formulating focused research questions, such as investigating the effectiveness of online education platforms compared to traditional methods for adult learners.
- During the process of synthesizing results, appropriate methods can be employed to analyze the collected data, ensuring comprehensive identification and appraisal of relevant studies on education-and-self-development, specifically focusing on the efficiency of online education and learning.
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