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Understanding Systematic Literature Reviews

The document outlines the process and structure for conducting a systematic literature review, emphasizing a methodologically rigorous approach to analyzing literature in a chosen field. It details the major sections of the review, including the abstract, introduction, research protocol, results, and discussion, each with specific objectives and requirements. The review aims to synthesize information from selected studies and evaluate their significance, ultimately contributing to the field of research.

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Jabrail Chumakov
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32 views3 pages

Understanding Systematic Literature Reviews

The document outlines the process and structure for conducting a systematic literature review, emphasizing a methodologically rigorous approach to analyzing literature in a chosen field. It details the major sections of the review, including the abstract, introduction, research protocol, results, and discussion, each with specific objectives and requirements. The review aims to synthesize information from selected studies and evaluate their significance, ultimately contributing to the field of research.

Uploaded by

Jabrail Chumakov
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Systematic‌‌Literature‌‌Review‌‌ ‌

‌
‌
What‌‌is‌‌it?‌‌ ‌
Your‌‌goal‌‌with‌‌the‌‌systematic‌‌literature‌‌review‌‌is‌‌to‌‌conduct‌‌a‌‌methodologically‌‌rigorous‌‌
analysis‌‌of‌‌the‌‌literature‌‌in‌‌a‌‌field‌‌of‌‌interest‌‌to‌‌you.‌‌This‌‌literature‌‌review‌‌differs‌‌from‌‌
undergraduate‌‌papers‌‌in‌‌which‌‌you‌‌may‌‌have,‌‌for‌‌instance,‌‌simply‌‌used‌‌any‌‌available‌‌
source.‌‌Instead,‌‌you‌‌will‌‌carefully‌‌describe‌‌the‌‌research‌‌protocol‌‌used‌‌in‌‌finding‌‌your‌‌
sources.‌‌The‌‌review‌‌is‌‌written‌‌across‌‌the‌‌first‌‌ten‌‌weeks‌‌of‌‌the‌‌class.‌‌You‌‌will‌‌draft‌‌several‌‌of‌‌
the‌‌major‌‌sections‌‌of‌‌the‌‌review‌‌(e.g.‌‌methods,‌‌results,‌‌abstract)‌‌in‌‌advance‌‌and‌‌receive‌‌
feedback‌‌that‌‌helps‌‌you‌‌compose‌‌the‌‌final‌‌review.‌ ‌ ‌
‌
Major‌‌Sections‌ ‌
More‌‌detail‌‌about‌‌each‌‌of‌‌the‌‌major‌‌sections‌‌is‌‌available‌‌under‌‌the‌‌descriptions‌‌for‌‌the‌‌
smaller‌‌SLR‌‌assignments.‌‌ ‌
‌
Abstract‌‌ ‌
In‌‌the‌‌abstract,‌‌your‌‌goal‌‌is‌‌to‌‌encourage‌‌people‌‌to‌‌read‌‌the‌‌whole‌‌study‌‌and‌‌consider‌‌citing‌‌
it‌‌in‌‌their‌‌own‌‌published‌‌work.‌‌You‌‌should‌‌focus‌‌on‌‌the‌‌results‌‌of‌‌your‌‌research‌‌but‌‌also‌‌
include‌‌the‌‌following:‌‌ ‌
❏ A‌‌one‌‌sentence‌‌statement‌‌summarizing‌‌the‌‌findings‌‌of‌‌your‌‌research‌‌and‌‌connecting‌‌
them‌‌to‌‌common‌‌knowledge‌‌in‌‌the‌‌field.‌‌ ‌
❏ One‌‌sentence‌‌stating‌‌the‌‌problem‌‌addressed‌‌by‌‌your‌‌research‌‌and‌‌why‌‌your‌‌
approach‌‌to‌‌it‌‌is‌‌unique.‌‌ ‌
❏ One‌‌sentence‌‌or‌‌part‌‌of‌‌a‌‌sentence‌‌that‌‌reveals‌‌the‌‌methodology‌‌employed‌‌and‌‌any‌‌
relevant‌‌research‌‌questions‌‌or‌‌hypotheses.‌‌ ‌
❏ One‌‌or‌‌two‌‌sentences‌‌summarizing‌‌key‌‌results‌b ‌ ut‌‌not‌‌data‌‌‌that‌‌answered‌‌the‌‌
research‌‌questions‌‌or‌‌validated‌‌/‌‌invalidated‌‌hypotheses.‌‌ ‌
❏ One‌‌sentence‌‌describing‌‌the‌‌key‌‌impact‌‌of‌‌your‌‌research‌‌and‌‌the‌‌implications‌‌for‌‌
your‌‌field‌‌of‌‌research.‌‌This‌‌is‌‌a‌‌summary‌‌of‌‌the‌‌discussion‌‌section.‌‌ ‌
‌
Introduction‌‌and‌‌Background‌‌ ‌
In‌‌the‌‌introduction,‌‌you‌‌should‌‌establish‌‌the‌‌significance‌‌of‌‌your‌‌study‌‌as‌‌a‌‌whole‌‌and‌‌its‌‌
connection‌‌to‌‌what‌‌is‌‌already‌‌known‌‌about‌‌the‌‌subject.‌‌Provide‌‌both:‌‌ ‌
❏ A‌‌rationale‌‌or‌‌justification‌‌for‌‌the‌‌study‌‌as‌‌a‌‌whole.‌‌ ‌
❏ A‌‌connection‌‌to‌‌“common‌‌knowledge”‌‌in‌‌the‌‌field,‌‌generally‌‌this‌‌is‌‌what‌‌an‌‌advanced‌‌
undergraduate‌‌would‌‌already‌‌know.‌‌ ‌
‌
Research‌‌Protocol‌‌ ‌
The‌‌review‌‌must‌‌also‌‌follow‌‌a‌‌set‌‌of‌r‌ esearch‌‌protocols.‌‌‌The‌‌protocol‌‌is‌‌the‌‌motive‌‌force‌‌for‌‌
the‌‌rest‌‌of‌‌the‌‌paper‌‌because‌‌the‌‌validity‌‌of‌‌the‌‌review‌‌depends‌‌on‌‌having‌‌a‌‌solid‌‌protocol.‌‌
Your‌‌aim‌‌is‌‌to‌‌identify‌‌around‌‌25-30‌‌sources‌‌relevant‌‌to‌‌answering‌‌your‌‌research‌‌questions.‌‌
However,‌‌most‌‌of‌‌you‌‌will‌‌find‌‌hundreds‌‌if‌‌not‌‌thousands‌‌of‌‌results‌‌when‌‌entering‌‌key‌‌terms‌‌
into‌‌databases.‌‌The‌‌protocol‌‌is‌‌your‌‌method‌‌of‌‌locating‌‌sources‌‌and‌‌narrowing‌‌down‌‌the‌‌
relevant‌‌sources‌‌to‌‌the‌‌required‌‌number.‌‌The‌‌following‌‌items‌‌are‌‌included‌‌in‌‌the‌‌research‌‌
protocol‌‌(methodology)‌‌section:‌‌ ‌
❏ The‌‌rationale‌‌or‌‌justification‌‌for‌‌the‌‌study’s‌‌research‌‌questions.‌‌ ‌
❏ The‌‌strategy‌‌that‌‌will‌‌be‌‌used‌‌to‌‌find‌‌primary‌‌studies‌‌including:‌‌search‌‌terms‌‌used,‌‌
databases‌‌accessed,‌‌number‌‌of‌‌results‌‌from‌‌each‌‌database,‌‌detailed‌‌account‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
number‌‌of‌‌articles‌‌included‌‌and‌‌excluded‌‌at‌‌each‌‌stage.‌‌ ‌
❏ Both‌‌objective‌‌and‌‌subjective‌‌criteria‌‌or‌‌reasons‌‌for‌‌including‌‌and‌‌excluding‌‌studies.‌‌
An‌‌objective‌‌criterion‌‌is‌‌“studies‌‌before‌‌2016‌‌were‌‌excluded.”‌‌A‌‌subjective‌‌criterion‌‌is‌‌
“studies‌‌not‌‌directly‌‌relevant‌‌to‌‌the‌‌research‌‌question‌‌were‌‌excluded.”‌‌It‌‌is‌a
‌ lways‌t‌he‌‌
case‌‌that‌‌you‌‌must‌‌explain‌‌subjective‌‌criteria‌‌in‌‌extreme‌‌and‌‌painstaking‌‌detail‌‌to‌‌
avoid‌‌the‌‌validity‌‌of‌‌your‌‌method‌‌being‌‌threatened.‌ ‌
❏ Data‌‌and‌‌tables‌‌relevant‌‌to‌‌your‌‌protocol.‌‌At‌‌minimum‌‌you‌‌must‌‌have‌‌both‌‌1)‌‌a‌‌table‌‌
listing‌‌the‌‌databases‌‌surveyed‌‌and‌‌the‌‌number‌‌of‌‌results‌‌obtained‌‌from‌‌each‌‌
database‌‌and‌‌2)‌‌an‌‌“included‌‌studies”‌‌flow‌‌chart‌‌that‌‌visually‌‌represents‌‌the‌‌process‌‌
of‌‌narrowing‌‌down‌‌the‌‌studies‌‌included‌‌(see‌‌the‌‌sample‌‌SLR‌‌on‌‌Moodle‌‌for‌‌
examples).‌ ‌ ‌
‌
Results‌ ‌
In‌‌the‌‌results‌‌section,‌‌you‌‌will‌‌use‌‌the‌‌studies‌‌identified‌‌in‌‌the‌‌protocol‌‌to‌‌compose‌‌a‌‌review‌‌
of‌‌the‌‌literature‌‌that‌‌answers‌‌your‌‌questions.‌‌Your‌‌goal‌‌here‌‌is‌‌an‌‌information‌‌solution,‌‌not‌‌a‌‌
mixture.‌‌That‌‌is,‌‌you‌‌must‌‌synthesize‌‌the‌‌information‌‌found‌‌in‌‌the‌‌studies‌‌as‌‌much‌‌as‌‌
possible‌‌rather‌‌than‌‌simply‌‌presenting‌‌it‌‌all‌‌in‌‌the‌‌same‌‌paper.‌‌The‌‌following‌‌are‌‌objectives‌‌
to‌‌accomplish‌‌included‌‌in‌‌this‌‌section:‌‌ ‌
❏ Answer‌‌the‌‌research‌‌questions‌‌by‌‌sorting‌‌the‌‌discovered‌‌studies‌‌into‌‌categories‌‌and‌‌
synthesizing‌‌the‌‌information‌‌obtained‌‌from‌‌them.‌‌ ‌
❏ Visually‌‌represent‌‌data‌‌from‌‌studies‌‌where‌‌appropriate‌‌in‌‌order‌‌to‌‌make‌‌comparison‌‌
easier.‌‌ ‌
❏ Summarize‌‌important‌‌information‌‌at‌‌the‌‌end‌‌of‌‌major‌‌sections.‌‌ ‌
‌
Discussion‌‌ ‌
This‌‌is‌‌often‌‌the‌‌most‌‌difficult‌‌section‌‌of‌‌the‌‌paper‌‌and‌‌the‌‌one‌‌for‌‌which‌‌procrastinators‌‌
reserve‌‌the‌‌least‌‌time.‌‌The‌‌discussion‌‌section‌‌differs‌‌from‌‌the‌‌results‌‌section‌‌in‌‌that‌‌rather‌‌
than‌‌reporting‌‌or‌‌describing‌‌data‌‌and‌‌information,‌‌you‌‌are‌‌now‌‌evaluating‌‌its‌‌significance.‌‌
You‌‌are‌‌asking‌‌not‌w ‌ hat‌‌‌or‌h
‌ ow‌‌‌but‌w
‌ hy‌‌‌or‌w
‌ hy‌‌does‌‌it‌‌matter‌.‌‌In‌‌the‌‌introduction,‌‌you‌‌will‌‌
have‌‌established‌‌the‌‌importance‌‌of‌‌the‌‌research‌‌being‌‌conducted,‌‌your‌‌goal‌‌in‌‌the‌‌
discussions‌‌section‌‌is‌‌to‌‌reinforce‌‌the‌‌importance‌‌of‌‌the‌‌research‌‌using‌‌the‌‌data‌‌you’ve‌‌
uncovered.‌‌Each‌‌discussion‌‌section‌‌is‌‌different,‌‌but‌‌you‌‌could:‌ ‌
❏ Explain‌‌how‌‌the‌‌results‌‌of‌‌the‌‌study‌‌compare‌‌to‌‌commonly‌‌held‌‌assumptions‌‌in‌‌your‌‌
field‌‌of‌‌research.‌‌ ‌
❏ Explain‌‌why‌‌there‌‌are‌‌differences‌‌between‌‌findings‌‌in‌‌one‌‌group‌‌of‌‌studies‌‌and‌‌
another.‌‌ ‌
❏ Evaluate‌‌flawed‌‌methodologies‌‌employed‌‌in‌‌the‌‌studies‌‌in‌‌your‌‌review‌‌and‌‌compare‌‌
them‌‌to‌‌better‌‌methodologies.‌‌ ‌
❏ Explain‌‌inconsistent‌‌data‌‌points‌‌within‌‌or‌‌between‌‌studies.‌‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
**A‌‌previous‌‌version‌‌of‌‌this‌‌description‌‌included‌‌information‌‌about‌‌a‌‌conclusion‌‌
section,‌‌that‌‌section‌‌is‌‌no‌‌longer‌‌required.**‌ ‌

Common questions

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Providing a detailed account of the number of articles included and excluded at each stage in a systematic literature review is essential for transparency and replicability. This detailed reporting ensures that readers understand the selection process and the rationale behind it, which helps in assessing the rigor and comprehensiveness of the review. It also aids in demonstrating adherence to the established protocol and allows others to follow the steps for verification or replication, which enhances the credibility and reliability of the study's findings .

The strategy used to locate and narrow down sources in a systematic literature review critically impacts the study's validity and reliability. A well-defined strategy includes search terms, accessed databases, and systematic filtering procedures to identify relevant studies. An appropriately executed research protocol ensures that the included studies are comprehensive and pertinent, reducing the risk of selection bias. It minimizes the chance of overlooking important research and allows for replicability and transparency in the review process, thereby underlining the credibility and robustness of the study's conclusions .

In a systematic literature review, categorizing studies aids in addressing research questions by enabling a structured analysis of existing literature. By grouping studies based on relevant themes, methodologies, or outcomes, researchers can efficiently synthesize information, identify gaps, and establish patterns across the literature. This organization facilitates a coherent analysis that directly addresses the research questions, helps in discerning the variance in findings, and contributes to drawing more comprehensive conclusions .

The discussion section may be the most challenging part of a systematic literature review because it requires evaluating and interpreting the significance of findings rather than merely reporting them. This involves a deep understanding of the data, recognizing inconsistencies or methodological flaws, and relating the study's findings to the broader field. To enhance its effectiveness, strategies such as comparing results to existing assumptions, explaining differences between study outcomes, and evaluating methodologies can be employed. These strategies provide a critical analysis that highlights the study's impact, relevance, implications, and potential directions for future research .

Synthesizing information from multiple studies in a systematic literature review offers several benefits, including generating comprehensive insights that can enhance understanding of complex issues and potentially identify patterns or gaps in the literature. However, challenges include ensuring the appropriate integration of diverse study methodologies and findings without introducing bias. It requires critical assessment and comparison of study quality to draw valid conclusions, which demands significant expertise and analytical skills. Effective synthesis enhances the study's contribution to the field by providing a coherent and comprehensive overview of existing research .

The discussion section of a systematic literature review plays a complementary yet distinct role compared to the results section. While the results section focuses on presenting and synthesizing data from identified studies to answer research questions, the discussion section evaluates the significance of these findings. It examines why these findings matter, compares them with commonly held assumptions, and highlights their relevance to the field. This section helps reinforce the importance within the context of existing research and underscores the broader impact of the study, making it critical for articulating the study's contribution and implications .

Visually representing data from studies in a systematic literature review significantly enhances comprehension and comparison of information. It allows readers to quickly grasp complex information, discern patterns or trends, and identify anomalies across studies. Visual tools like graphs, charts, or flow diagrams can effectively summarize and organize data, making it accessible and interpretable, which aids in synthesizing larger quantities of information and drawing meaningful conclusions from disparate sources .

The abstract of a systematic literature review is crafted to encourage readers to read the full study and consider citing it in their own work. It should include a concise summary of the research findings, a sentence addressing the problem and the uniqueness of the approach, an overview of the methodology and relevant research questions or hypotheses, a brief summary of key results without detailed data, and a sentence on the research's impact and implications. These elements collectively highlight the study's significance and relevance .

Establishing both objective and subjective criteria for study selection in a systematic literature review is crucial to ensure the validity and reliability of the findings. Objective criteria, such as excluding studies before a particular year, provide a clear and replicable basis for decision-making. Subjective criteria, like excluding studies not directly relevant to the research question, require detailed explanation to maintain transparency and prevent bias. Not detailing subjective criteria can threaten the validity of the method and undermine the credibility of the review, as it would raise concerns regarding the selection process's transparency and rigor .

A systematic literature review (SLR) differs from an undergraduate paper primarily in its methodological rigor and the systematic approach it requires. The SLR aims to conduct a methodologically rigorous analysis of literature by describing the research protocol for finding sources, including a well-defined methodology section with a detailed account of included and excluded studies. It requires drafting various sections like methods, results, and abstract in advance with critical feedback. In contrast, undergraduate papers often use any available source without a structured protocol. Additionally, an SLR involves both objective and subjective criteria for study inclusion, a systematic procedure to narrow down relevant studies, and is designed to synthesize information rather than merely presenting it .

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