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Finding and Managing Information for Your Dissertation: 6. Systematic Reviews

What is a Systematic Review?

The key characteristics of a Systematic Review are:

  • a clearly stated set of objectives with pre-defined eligibility criteria for studies
  • an explicit, reproducible methodology
  • a systematic search which attempts to identify all studies that would meet the eligibility criteria
  • an assessment of the validity of the findings of the included studies
  • a systematic presentation, and synthesis, of the characteristics and findings of the included studies

(Taken from the Cochrane Handbook, section 1.2.2)

The Systematic Review process

1. Formulate a review question
2. Develop a review protocol
3. Initiate search strategy
4. Apply inclusion /exclusion criteria
5. Quality appraisal
6. Data extraction
7. Synthesis and Interpretation

How your Library can help with your Systematic Review

Your Library and Subject Librarian can help in a number of ways with your Systematic Review:

  • Defining the scope and boundaries of the search strategy
  • Deciding which resources to use
  • Training and use of Reference Management tools, including EndNote
  • Document Acquisition

What expertise can your Subject Librarian offer?

  • Skills in compiling a search string or strategy
  • Knowledge and skills in searching bibliographic databases and other sources
  • Knowledge of grey literature sources
  • Knowledge of how to acquire full-text documents
  • Expertise on using Endnote
  • Referencing advice

Key resources to consider

Book an appointment with your Subject Librarian

We offer one-to-one appointments to help you with your research and literature reviews. These appointments are being offered online through Microsoft Teams. 

You can book an appointment with your Subject Librarian here: 

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/is/library-services/librarians/