Systematic Reviews

Introduction

The term systematic review is occurring more frequently in relation to longer student assignments at undergraduate and taught postgraduate level.  Whilst chiefly in Medical, Health and Life Sciences subjects, this has extended to areas such as Education and Business Studies (Zawacki-Richter et al.; EPPI Centre) .

However, are you actually being required to undertake a formal Systematic Review along the lines of Cochrane or other groups?

• It may simply be a general literature search and review of articles, using databases
• Or: a number of elements of the Systematic Review method may be needed, as directed

Elements may include:

• The protocol, PRISMA flowchart sequence, searching several databases, filtering results (inclusion/exclusion)

It is essential to clarify with the Programme Lead or Module Tutor the precise requirements of the assignment.

University of Birmingham members can consult the Canvas course on Systematic Literature Searching.

To consider further what a Systematic Review is, go to Systematic Review - Definitions. 

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