Critical appraisal of the literature is an essential part of the systematic review process and relevant also to other review types. If in doubt, consult your tutor or supervisor regarding correct use of specific methods or tools.
Aveyard (2019a) covers the essentials of critically appraising literature for a review. It highlights the need to assess different study types and their relevance to the review, as well striking a balance between unqualified acceptance and excess negative criticism of the studies. Some tools are indicated, such as CASP.
CASP is the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and has checklists (2022) for various study types such as RCTs, systematic reviews, economic evaluations and others.
Oxford University’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, 2023) hosts a set of critical appraisal worksheets, in different languages, for a range of study types.
The Joanna Briggs Institute (2022), specialising in evidence-based healthcare, provides downloadable critical appraisal tools (checklists) for an extensive set of study types including ‘text and opinion’.
A brief summary of Study Types is provided by University Library, Georgia State University (2022). Aveyard (2019b) and Muir Gray (2009, pp. 125-180) cover these in more detail, including their purpose and suitability for use in research. Greenhalgh (2019) looks at assessing methodological quality of different study types, with practical exercises.
Aveyard, H. (2019a) ‘Chapter 5. How do I critically appraise the literature?’, in Doing a literature review in health and social care : a practical guide. 4th edn. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.
Aveyard, H. (2019b) ‘Chapter 3. Which literature will be relevant to my literature review?’, in Doing a literature review in health and social care : a practical guide. 4th edn. Maidenhead : McGraw-Hill Education.
Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford (2023) Critical appraisal tools. Available at: https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/resources/ebm-tools/critical-appraisal-tools (Accessed 3 January 2023).
Critical appraisal skills programme (2022). CASP checklists. Available at: https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/ (Accessed 3 January 2023).
Greenhalgh, T. (2019) 'Chapter 4. Asessing methodological quality', in How to read a paper. 6th edn. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons
Joanna Briggs Institute, University of Adelaide (2022) Critical appraisal tools. Available at: https://jbi.global/critical-appraisal-tools (Accessed 4 January 2023).
Muir Gray, J. A. (2009) 'Chapter 5. Appraising the quality of research', in Evidence-based healthcare and public health. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
University Library, Georgia State University (2022) Evidence-based medicine: study designs. Available at: https://research.library.gsu.edu/c.php?g=115558&p=1966291 (Accessed 10 January 2023)