Understanding the differences between scoping review vs literature review is crucial for anyone involved in academic research. While both methods are used to synthesize existing information, they serve distinct purposes. Scoping reviews provide an overview of existing evidence, identifying gaps in knowledge and research methods. On the other hand, literature reviews analyze information, identifying key concepts, theories, and methodologies. Therefore, it is essential to understand the differences to employ the most suitable strategies in research processes. Use literature review tools to help in this process.
What Is Scoping Review?
Scoping reviews are a preliminary assessment of potential size and scope of available research literature. They aim to identify the nature and extent of research evidence, usually including ongoing research. They are not mapping reviews, which focus more on the question rather than the topic. Scoping reviews clarify concepts in the literature and define gaps in knowledge.
They do not aim to produce a critically appraised and synthesized result/answer to a particular question but rather provide an overview or map of the evidence. Scoping reviews are systematic-like and require a rigorous approach. They often include a protocol, systematic and thorough searching, and well-documented methods. They can be the precursor to a full systematic review.
What Is Literature Review?
Literature review is a product and a process. As a product, it is a carefully written examination, interpretation, evaluation, and synthesis of the published literature related to your topic. It focuses on what is known about your topic and what methodologies, models, theories, and concepts have been applied to it by others.
The process is what is involved in conducting a review of the literature.
It is ongoing
It is iterative (repetitive)
It involves searching for and finding relevant literature.
It includes keeping track of your references and preparing and formatting them for the bibliography of your thesis
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In a scoping review, the review question is a focused clinical question or hypothesis. An a priori review protocol is necessary in this type of review, as well as registering the protocol. The process includes a comprehensive search to locate all relevant published and unpublished studies.
There is also an explicit description of what types of studies are to be included. Standardized data extraction forms are used in a scoping review, and there is a risk of bias assessment through critical appraisal.
Literature Review
In a literature review, the review question is a general discussion of a topic, not a focused clinical question or hypothesis. An a priori review protocol is typically not used and not required, as well as registering the protocol. The process of searching for relevant literature is not comprehensive, typically only including published literature.
The decision-making process of which studies to include or exclude is undefined but typically only includes studies that support claims. Standardized data extraction forms are not used in a literature review, and there is no risk of bias assessment through critical appraisal.
Complete Step-by-Step Guide On How To Use Unriddle's AI Research Tool
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Unriddle. I’ve also copied it below :)
From here, it's pretty simple.
Unriddle helps you read, write and learn faster.
Interact with documents via AI so you can quickly find and understand info.
Then start writing in a new Note and Unriddle will show you relevant content from your library as you type.
When you upload a document, Unriddle generates an AI assistant on top of this data.
Click 'New' in the right sidebar and then select 'Upload' to get started.
Use this assistant to answer specific questions about the text, summarize content and simplify jargon.
The trick is to be super clear about what you want.
If you're summarizing a research paper, for example, instead of saying “Summarize” or “Summarize this research paper”, say something like “Explain this research paper to me in simple terms. What method did the researchers use? What did they find? Why does it matter?”.
The second prompt will produce a much better overview of the paper because we're giving the AI more hints about what we want.
Automatic relations
Unriddle grasps the context behind each Note and Document in your library and automatically links them based on meaning.
Let's say you have a collection of nuclear physics papers in your library.
When you start writing a note about The Manhattan Project, simply mentioning "The Manhattan Project" will prompt Unriddle to find the connection between this note and the nuclear physics papers.
Even if you didn't explicitly mention the research papers, Unriddle's knowledge of Oppenheimer, his work, and the significant relevance of these papers means it understands the connection and automatically links them together.
In short, Unriddle shows you relevant content from your library at the exact moment you need it, even if you haven't explicitly mentioned it.
Citing your sources
Writing is hard when you have a ton of sources to track.
So we made it easy.
Highlight some text, click ‘Cite’ and you’ll see items from your library that contain information related to the selection of text you just highlighted as determined by our AI.
When you select an item Unriddle inserts a link into highlighted text that, when clicked, takes you to the referenced item.
Writing with AI
Click ‘New’ in the sidebar and hit ‘Note’ to open up a new note.
Here you’ll find all the text formatting options you’re used to and more.
Type ‘++’ to generate text based on the context of what’s already written.
Highlight text and click ‘Ask AI’ to open up the AI menu where you’ll find options to improve, expand, summarize and explain.
You can type custom prompts too!
Finally, you can open any note in a pane on the right side of the screen while interacting with documents. Just click the orange pencil icon at the top of the chat window.
Chat Settings
Adjust the model, temperature and response length in the Setting sidebar.
Click the cog icon in the top right corner of the screen and look for "Chat Settings".
These apply across all documents but you can easily flip between them regardless of settings at the time of upload.
Model: the machine learning model used to generate responses.
Temperature: the amount of creative license you give to the AI.
Max length: the maximum number of words generated in a response.
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What Are The 6 Stages Of A Scoping Review?
1. Clarifying and Linking the Purpose and Research Question
In a scoping review, the first step is to clarify and link the purpose and research question. This involves developing a broad research question that will guide the scoping study. It is essential to link the purpose and research question to ensure that the scoping review stays focused and addresses the intended goals. By defining the purpose and research question clearly, the scoping review can proceed with a clear direction, ensuring that the review's purpose aligns with the study's objectives.
2. Balancing Feasibility with Breadth and Comprehensiveness of the Scoping Process
In the second stage of a scoping review, it is crucial to balance feasibility with the breadth and comprehensiveness of the scoping process. This involves determining the scope and depth of the review to ensure the review remains manageable while providing a comprehensive overview of the subject. Ensuring a balanced approach allows researchers to determine the most appropriate extent of the scoping review to meet the study's objectives without overcommitting or creating an unrealistic scope.
3. Using an Iterative Team Approach to Selecting Studies
4. Extracting Data
Stage three of a scoping review involves using an iterative team approach to selecting studies. This collaborative process allows for the input of multiple team members, ensuring that a broad range of perspectives is considered when selecting studies for inclusion in the review.
In stage four, an iterative team approach is also employed in extracting data from the selected studies. This iterative process ensures that the data extraction is thorough and minimizes the risk of overlooking important information. By utilizing a team approach, scoping reviews achieve a high level of rigor and consistency.
5. Incorporating a Numerical Summary and Qualitative Thematic Analysis, Reporting Results, and Considering the Implications of Study Findings to Policy, Practice, or Research
In stage five of a scoping review, researchers incorporate a numerical summary and qualitative thematic analysis when reporting results. This stage allows researchers to present a comprehensive overview of the findings, combining quantitative data with qualitative insights.
By providing a thorough analysis of the data, researchers can offer a nuanced view of the subject matter, highlighting key patterns and themes found in the literature. Considering the implications of study findings to policy, practice, or research is also crucial at this stage, as it allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the scoping review's results.
6. Incorporating Consultation with Stakeholders as a Required Knowledge Translation Component of Scoping Study Methodology
An additional step in the scoping review process is to incorporate consultation with stakeholders as a required knowledge translation component. This stage involves engaging with stakeholders to ensure that the research findings are disseminated effectively and applied in relevant policy, practice, or research settings.
By involving stakeholders, scoping reviews enhance the relevance and applicability of their findings, contributing to a more meaningful impact on the field. This iterative approach highlights the collaborative and inclusive nature of scoping reviews, ensuring that the study's outcomes are shared and utilized to their fullest potential.
What Is The Purpose Of A Scoping Review vs Literature Review
The purpose of a scoping review is to examine emerging evidence when specific questions are unclear. It clarifies definitions and conceptual boundaries on a topic by identifying and mapping available evidence. Scoping reviews provide a preliminary assessment of the potential size and scope of available research literature and are typically done before a systematic review. Their focus is to summarize and disseminate research findings in the research literature and identify gaps with the intention of resolving them with future publications.
Purpose of Literature Review
A literature review serves multiple purposes. It provides a foundation of knowledge on a topic, identifies areas of prior scholarship, and prevents duplication while giving credit to other researchers. It identifies inconsistencies such as gaps in research, conflicts in previous studies, and open questions left from other research. A literature review also justifies the need for additional research and identifies relationships of works to their contributions to the topic and other works, placing your own research within the context of existing literature and making a case for why further study is needed.
Enhance Your Reading and Writing with Unriddle
Unriddle allows you to read faster and write better. Quickly find info in documents, simplify complex topics, take notes, and write with the power of AI. Unriddle is trusted by thousands of researchers and students, from the classroom to the boardroom.
Unriddle generates an AI assistant on top of any document so you can quickly find, summarize, and understand info. No more endless skimming.
Unriddle understands the meaning behind your writing and automatically links you to relevant things you’ve read and written about in the past.
Highlight text and Unriddle will show you the most relevant sources from your library using AI. Never lose a citation again.
Generate text with AI autocomplete to improve and expand your writing, with all suggestions based on the context of what you're working on.
Step into a collaborative workspace where everyone can contribute and chat with the same documents in real-time, and much more!
Read Faster & Write Better With Unriddle for Free Today
Let's dive into the world of literature review tools with a standout option - Unriddle. This tool is designed to boost your reading speed, enhance your writing skills, and ultimately, elevate your research experience. Unriddle streamlines the process of extracting information from documents, simplifying complex topics, taking notes, and writing with the assistance of AI technology. By tapping into the power of Unriddle, thousands of researchers and students have enhanced their research capabilities, from the classroom to the boardroom.
Seamless Document Navigation with Unriddle
Unriddle is your dependable AI assistant for navigating any document. No more endless skimming - Unriddle deciphers the meaning behind your writing and automatically connects you with relevant references from your past research. With just a simple highlight of text, Unriddle presents you with the most relevant sources from your library using AI.
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