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- Review Methods and PRISMA
Systematic/Scoping Reviews (Master's/Doctoral): Review Methods and PRISMA
Learning About Reviews
The resources listed here provide some information to help you understand the process of conducting a systematic or scoping review. The series of videos from Yale are particularly helpful for both types of reviews. Also be sure to review the PRISMA reporting guidelines--these will help you see the required steps and provide an outline for your paper.
- Systematic Searches Video SeriesThis series of videos was created by librarians at Yale University. Watch videos #1-5 and #8 to learn the fundamentals of systematic searching.
Systematic Reviews
Systematic reviews typically focus on a very specific research question and analyze particular types of research studies. For example, researchers may look only at randomized controlled trials or they may include cohort studies in addition to RCTs.
- Learning how to undertake a systematic review, part 1Bettany-Saltikov, J. (2010). This first journal article by provides an overview of the systematic review process and how to get started.
- Learning how to undertake a systematic review, part 2Bettany-Saltikov, J. (2010). This second journal article focuses on the search strategy for a systematic review and how to present your data.
Doing a Systematic Review: A Student's Guide If you are a Masters or a PhD student conducting a systematic review for your dissertation or thesis, then this is the book for you!
Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences This book provides practical, step-by-step advice on conducting a systematic review and can be used for health sciences as well as social sciences.
Comprehensive Systematic Review for Advanced Practice Nursing, Second Edition This ebook is available online 24/7. The steps for doing a systematic review described in this book apply to all health sciences disciplines.
Scoping Reviews
Scoping reviews typically focus on a broader research question (compared to systematic reviews) and may include quantitative and qualitative studies in the analysis.
- Scoping Studies: Towards a Methodological FrameworkArksey, H. & O'Malley, L. (2005). This framework outlines a method for conducting scoping studies.
- Scoping Studies: Advancing the MethodologyLevac, D., Colquhoun, H. & O'Brien, K.K. (2010). This article clarifies and enhances the scoping methodology framework developed by Arksey & O'Malley.
PRISMA
PRISMA = Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses.
Systematic and scoping reviews should be reproducible, so it is important that your written manuscript be clear about your research question, what you chose to include and exclude, and how you went about searching for articles. The PRISMA checklist and flow diagram provide a model to step you through the process and assist you in writing your manuscript.
New PRISMA guidelines for 2020!
- PRISMA Guidelines and ExamplesThis page includes a link to the updated PRISMA guidelines and explains each guideline in detail. It also includes a link to written examples that show you how to address each guideline.
- Last Updated: Apr 18, 2025 7:33 AM
- URL: https://libguides.gvsu.edu/reviews_grad_level