This guide gives an introductory overview of the steps involved in a full systematic review. Emphasis is on aspects that the Library team can advise on. Links are included to find full guidance and methodological details.
Undergraduate and taught postgraduate students will not be carrying out a full systematic review - please see the Student Systematic Reviews page for advice.
We can support your systematic review by giving advice in the following areas:
We cannot carry out searches on your behalf or help screen results.
Please note, the University does not subscribe to systematic review software packages.
It can be useful to read published systematic reviews in your discipline to learn more about the process. The following specialist resources can be used to find systematic reviews.
Published systematic reviews vary in quality. You can use a critical appraisal checklist to assess reviews, examples are given below:
Please see the More Resources page for additional guidance.
Library enquiries can be submitted in different ways from our Contact Us page.
For staff, please email your Subject Librarian directly.
For research students, please use Ask ARU initially.
Subject Librarians can offer individualised, in-depth help. Book a meeting using the Study Skills Appointments service.
For undergraduate and taught postgraduate students, please see the Student Systematic Reviews page of this guide before booking a meeting.
'Systematic review' is sometimes used to encompass a range of different review types using similar methodology.
Common review types include scoping reviews, rapid reviews, and umbrella reviews. These are all distinct from the conventional or 'narrative' literature reviews that may introduce a piece of research or be published in their own right.
What type of review should I do? Carrying out a full systematic review can be time consuming, detailed and rigorous, and involves a team of people rather than individuals. Another review type may be more appropriate for your needs. Find out more about the systematic review 'family' from the links and information below.
A systematic review (SR) aims to give an evidence-based answer to a specific research question and can potentially be used to guide future decision making. The methodology follows clear steps to gather, identify and appraise all relevant studies published in journal articles and other sources.
The data from these reports is synthesized to provide an evidence based answer to the research question. This synthesis may take the form of a statistical meta-analysis. Readers of the review should be able to see and repeat the steps taken by the authors: the process is transparent and replicable. Measures are used to minimise bias and potential bias is acknowledged.
The following links provide overviews of the process and further introductory detail. Find more sources in our Systematic Reviews reading list.
The pages of this guide follow the main steps in the systematic review process. In brief, these are:
The following sources give details of the full systematic review process and standards for reporting.
Scoping reviews seek to "systematically identify and map the breadth of evidence available on a particular topic, field, concept or issue, often irrespective of source" (Munn, 2022). 'Irrespective of source' means that evidence gathered and used can include many types of primary and secondary research. Scoping reviews can be used for many purposes and may identify the need for a systematic review to answer related but specific research questions.
Other review types such as umbrella reviews and rapid reviews are not covered in this guide - but some links are provided below for information.