How to do a systematic review
Introduction to systematic review methodology: protocol, search strategy, screening, and synthesis for postgraduate research.
A systematic review answers a defined question using explicit, reproducible methods to find, screen, and synthesise all relevant studies — not a convenient subset.
Register a protocol where your field expects it (e.g. PROSPERO for health). Define PICO or SPIDER elements, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and databases you will search before screening begins.
Develop a sensitive search strategy with a librarian when possible. Document keywords, MeSH terms, and filters so another researcher could replicate your search.
Screen titles and abstracts in two stages, then full texts, using blinded dual review where standards require it. Record counts for a PRISMA flow diagram.
Extract data into standardised forms: sample, methods, outcomes, risk of bias. Narrative synthesis or meta-analysis follows depending on heterogeneity.
Report transparently: search dates, databases, excluded studies, limitations, and conflicts of interest. Postgraduate coursework may use simplified systematic methods — confirm expectations with your supervisor.
Systematic reviews take weeks or months. Start early and use reference management and screening tools appropriate to your discipline.
Where Scholise helps
Scholise supports literature discovery, evidence tables, and verified citations during systematic reviews. Pair it with dedicated screening software if your protocol requires PRISMA-compliant workflows.
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