To our blog on systematic literature review examples! This blog will provide you with a comprehensive overview of what a systematic literature review is, the value it offers to research projects, and how you can conduct one. We will also explore some literature review tools that can help you streamline the process and ensure that your review is accurate and reliable. Stick around to learn more about this essential aspect of academic research!
What Is A Systematic Literature Review?
A systematic literature review is a method/process/protocol in which a body of literature is aggregated, reviewed and assessed while utilizing pre-specified and standardized techniques. In other words, to reduce bias, the rationale, the hypothesis, and the methods of data collection are prepared before the review and are used as a guide for performing the process. Just like it is for traditional literature reviews, the goal is to identify, critically appraise, and summarize the existing evidence concerning a clearly defined problem.
When starting a systematic literature review, I begin by formulating a well-built clinical question. This question is crucial as it defines the scope and purpose of my review. It guides me to focus on a specific topic, population, intervention, or outcome. Formulating a clear question also helps me find the right amount of information and not get overwhelmed. By asking the right questions, I can find the right answers. So, before diving into my review, I always take my time to define the answerable question.
Planning Your Research Protocol
Once I have my answerable question, the next step is to develop a research protocol. This protocol lays down the objectives of my project, the specific methods and processes I will use, and the eligibility criteria of the studies I will include.
I specify how I will extract data from individual studies and what analyses I plan to carry out. By having a detailed research protocol, I streamline my review process and ensure consistency throughout the study. It helps me stay organized and focused on the research question guiding my review.
Searching for the Literature
Searching for the literature is one of the most crucial steps in conducting a systematic literature review. To ensure I cover all relevant studies, I search thoroughly across different sources. I use databases, libraries, and institutional repositories to find studies related to my research question.
I also consult experts in the field and check reference lists of relevant studies. By casting a wide net, I ensure my review is comprehensive and includes all relevant studies necessary to answer my research question.
Screening the Literature
Screening the literature involves two phases: pre-screening of all titles and abstracts and screening the full-text articles of selected studies. This process is crucial to exclude irrelevant studies and include those that meet the eligibility criteria in my research protocol. By screening the literature, I ensure that the studies I include in my review directly contribute to answering my research question. This step helps me focus on high-quality studies that provide valuable insights into the topic I am exploring.
Assessing the Quality of the Studies
After screening the literature, I assess the quality of the studies I have selected. I evaluate the methodological quality of each study based on specific criteria related to the research question. By assessing the quality of the studies, I ensure that the evidence I include in my review is reliable and relevant. This step helps me identify biases, assess the robustness of the results, and make informed decisions based on the quality of the included studies. A rigorous assessment of study quality is essential to drawing meaningful conclusions from the systematic literature review.
Extracting the Data
Once I have identified high-quality studies for my review, I proceed with extracting data from these studies. I create a data extraction form to capture essential information from each study, including study design, sample size, outcomes, and key findings.
By systematically extracting data from the selected studies, I ensure that I have all the necessary information to analyze the results and draw evidence-based conclusions. Data extraction is a critical step in conducting a systematic review as it forms the foundation for the analysis and interpretation of the findings.
Analyzing the Results
With the extracted data in hand, I proceed to analyze the results of the included studies. I establish standard measures of outcome that can be applied consistently across all studies. These measures vary depending on the type of outcome, such as binary outcomes, continuous outcomes, or survival data.
By analyzing the results, I identify patterns, trends, and associations that help answer the research question. This step allows me to synthesize the findings from the included studies and draw meaningful conclusions based on the evidence presented.
Interpreting and Presenting the Results
The final step in a systematic literature review is interpreting and presenting the results. I consider various factors when interpreting the results, including limitations, strength of evidence, biases, applicability, economic effects, and implications for future research or practice. By critically evaluating the findings, I ensure that my conclusions are well-supported by the evidence presented in the review.
I apply appropriate grading of the evidence and consider the strength of my recommendations based on the quality of the included studies. Presenting the results in a clear and structured manner is essential for communicating the findings effectively and contributing to the body of knowledge in the field.
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.
Got feedback or questions? Send us an email and we'll get back to you within a day.
— Naveed
Systematic Literature Review Example For Inspiration
1. Vibration and Bubbles
A Systematic Review of the Effects of Helicopter Retrieval on Injured Divers
This systematic literature review examines the impact of helicopter retrieval on injured divers by analyzing studies that have investigated the correlation between vibration and bubbles as two potential stressors for divers during retrieval.
2. Determinants of Happiness among Healthcare Professionals between 2009 and 2019
A Systematic Review
This systematic literature review delves into the drivers of happiness among healthcare professionals over a decade, offering a thorough analysis of the factors that have shaped the well-being of this critical workforce sector.
3. A Systematic Review of the Corporate Reputation Literature
Definition, Measurement, and Theory
This systematic literature review explores corporate reputation by examining definitions, measurement methodologies, and theoretical frameworks, offering an in-depth understanding of how organizations and companies are perceived.
4. Add More Examples Here
Experience Unriddle
Unriddle allows you to speed up your reading and enhance your writing. Quickly access information in documents, simplify complex subjects, convert notes, and compose with the power of AI. Trusted by thousands of researchers and students, from classrooms to boardrooms, Unriddle creates an AI assistant on any document for swift information discovery, summarization, and understanding. No more endless skimming!
Unriddle connects the dots in your writing and automatically links you to relevant past reading and writing. By highlighting text, you can discover the most pertinent sources from your library with the help of AI, ensuring you never misplace a citation. Leverage AI autocomplete to generate text and enhance your writing based on context. Collaborate in real-time on documents and have discussions within the same workspace.
What Is The Format of a Systematic Literature Review?
A systematic literature review typically follows a simple format that helps researchers organize their ideas, findings, and conclusions efficiently. The primary sections include the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and references.
Title
The title of a systematic literature review should be concise, informative, and reflective of the research topic. It provides a glimpse into the central theme and scope of the review.
Abstract
This section offers a brief summary of the review's key content, including the research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions. It helps readers quickly grasp the main objectives and outcomes
Introduction
The introduction sets the stage by presenting the research problem, context, and objectives. It also outlines the scope of the review and highlights the significance of the study. In this section, researchers provide a rationale for conducting the review.
Methods
In this section, researchers describe the search strategy, study selection criteria, data extraction process, and quality assessment procedures. By detailing the research methods, the authors enable readers to understand how the review was conducted
Results
The results section presents the key findings of the selected studies and synthesizes the evidence. Researchers may use tables, charts, or textual summaries to present the results systematically. This section should answer the research question and highlight the most important outcomes
Discussion
In this section, authors interpret the results, discuss their implications, and compare their findings with the existing literature. The discussion section allows researchers to draw conclusions, identify research gaps, and suggest areas for future investigations
References
The reference section lists all the cited sources in the review. Researchers must follow a specific citation style, such as APA or MLA, when formatting the references.
A literature review is a type of review that uses a less systematic and formal approach than a systematic review. Typically, an expert in a topic will qualitatively summarize and evaluate previous work, without using a formal, explicit method. Although literature reviews are often less time-consuming and can be insightful or helpful, they have a higher risk of bias and are less transparent than systematic reviews.
Read Faster & Write Better With Unriddle for Free Today
Unriddle is an advanced tool that allows for faster reading and better writing. It uses AI to help you quickly find information in documents, simplify complex topics, take notes, and enhance your writing capabilities. Unriddle is a trusted platform utilized by numerous researchers and students seeking to improve their reading and writing efficiencies, from academia to professional settings.
One of the key features of Unriddle is its ability to generate an AI assistant that works alongside any document you are working on. This assistant helps you find, summarize, and understand information within your documents.
Seamless Integration of Past References
Unriddle offers a unique advantage – it comprehends the meaning behind your writing and automatically connects you to relevant materials you have read or written about in the past. This feature helps in making your writing more coherent and well-informed by incorporating ideas from your previous works.
With Unriddle, you can highlight text within your document, and the tool will display the most pertinent sources from your library using AI. This way, you can easily refer back to your sources without losing any critical citations.
Enhance Writing Efficiency
Another significant function of Unriddle is its ability to help you generate text by using AI autocomplete. This feature enhances and expands your writing by suggesting relevant content based on the context of your work. Unriddle provides a collaborative workspace where multiple users can contribute and engage in real-time discussions while working on the same documents.
This real-time collaboration helps in enhancing productivity and ensuring that everyone is on the same page. With Unriddle, you can unlock numerous tools and features that will aid in streamlining your writing process and research tasks.
Boost Productivity and Collaboration with Unriddle's Collaborative Workspace
Unriddle is an invaluable tool for researchers, students, and professionals looking to enhance their reading speed, writing quality, and overall productivity. By integrating AI capabilities into a user-friendly interface, Unriddle enables individuals to achieve higher levels of efficiency and accuracy in their academic and professional endeavors.
Start using Unriddle today to experience a new way of reading, writing, and collaborating that can revolutionize your workflow and elevate your research capabilities.