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

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)

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

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

• Primo, the Library catalogue
• Database Search at Aberystwyth University
• Specific Subject information
• Cochrane Library
• PRISMA Flow Diagram

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/