Systematic/Scoping Reviews (Master's/Doctoral): Assessing Quality
This guide provides step-by-step information for master's and doctoral students completing a systematic or scoping review.
Mixed Methods Reviews
- Mixed Methods Appraisal ToolThis tool can be used in a systematic or scoping review when the evidence includes multiple study designs. The tool can be used to appraise and/or describe quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed methods studies.
- A Conceptual Framework for Critical Appraisal in Systematic Mixed Studies ReviewsThis article discusses a framework for critically appraising qualitative and quantitative evidence that would be analyzed in one systematic or scoping review. Three components of quality are discussed: methodological, conceptual, and reporting.
- Reviewing Studies with Diverse Designs: The Development and Evaluation of a New ToolThis article discusses a 16-item quality assessment tool (QATSDD) to standardize and increase rigor in systematic and scoping reviews which include both qualitative and quantitative studies.
Appraising Specific Research Methods
Evidence-Based Rehabilitation: A Guide to PracticeCall Number: E-BookISBN: 1617119784This book includes chapters on evaluating research. The appendices include forms for appraising various types of research methodologies, such as studies that measure outcomes, studies that report on validity and reliability, and more.
- CASP ChecklistsThe Critical Appraisals Skills Programme (CASP) has appraisal checklists designed for use with Systematic Reviews, Randomized Controlled Trials, Cohort Studies, Case Control Studies, Economic Evaluations, Diagnostic Studies, Qualitative studies and Clinical Prediction Rule.
- CEBM Critical Appraisal ToolsThis site from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine contains useful tools and downloads for the critical appraisal of different types of medical evidence. Appraisal sheets are provided together with several helpful examples.
- GRADEGRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) is a widely adopted tool for grading the quality of evidence and for making recommendations.
- JBI Critical Appraisal ToolsThese critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute assist in assessing the trustworthiness, relevance and results of published papers.
- PEDro ScaleThis scale was designed to score randomized controlled trial for internal validity and sufficient statistical information. Please review the notes at the bottom of the downloadable PDF.
- QUADASQUADAS is a tool for the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies.
Levels of Evidence
- Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based MedicineThis site includes links to the OCEBM levels of evidence and guides on how to apply the levels.
Reporting Guidelines
- The EQUATOR NetworkThis site has information on over 400 reporting guidelines for different types of studies, such as CONSORT (for randomized controlled trials), PRISMA (for systematic reviews), and SRQR (for qualitative research).
Subjects: Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Public Health
- Last Updated: Apr 18, 2025 7:33 AM
- URL: https://libguides.gvsu.edu/reviews_grad_level
