Systematic Reviews for Non-Health Sciences

Find existing systematic reviews

Look for existing systematic reviews within your topic to make sure you aren't duplicating existing work. Reviewing existing systematic reviews also gives you the opportunity to review approaches and methodologies within your field.

1. Search for reviews in scholarly databases. Many databases, such as Web of Science, allow users to filter by "Review Articles" under the "Document Type" filter. Try searching for phrases such as systematic review or systematic literature review in the article title field.

2. Search for systematic reviews and protocols in registries. PROSPERO is an open access online database housing systematic review protocols. CEEDER is an open access database that houses evidence syntheses related to environmental management. Campbell Collaboration houses evidence syntheses related to the effects of social interventions. If your research is interdisciplinary and crosses over with health sciences, the Cochrane Library is a good place to find systematic reviews in human health care and health policy. The EPPI Centre also houses systematic reviews in their evidence library primarily on health, education, welfare, and other public policy sectors.

Reviewers – You may need at least two reviewers working independently to screen abstracts, with a potential third as a tie-breaker

Subject matter experts – Subject matter experts can clarify issues related to the topic

Statistician – A statistician can help with data analysis

Project leader – A project leader can coordinate and write the final report

Librarians – Librarian(s) can develop comprehensive search strategies and identify appropriate databases

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Time

Systematic reviews are time-consuming. According to Glasziou and colleagues (2001), the average (health sciences) systematic review takes 1,139 hours to complete (that's 30 full-time weeks!). Wondering how this time is spent?

• 588 hours for protocol development, searching, and retrieval;
• 144 hours for statistical analysis;
• 206 hours for report writing; and
• 201 hours for administration

So, before you decide on taking on a systematic review, make sure you have the time.

>> Check out PredicTER to estimate how long your proposed systematic review will take. <<

Human Effort

One person cannot take on a systematic review by themselves. A team of at least three people is needed.

• Project lead
• At least two reviewers, three is better (to break ties)
• A statistician (optional)
• A librarian (optional but highly recommended!)

Glasziou, P., Irwig, L., Bain, C., & Colditz, G. (2001). Systematic reviews in health care: A practical guide. Cambridge University Press.

Proposed by Foster and Jewell (2017), the PIECES framework is a useful tool for researchers in guiding them through the overarching phases of a review.

• Planning the review
• Identifying the studies
• Evaluating and appraising the evidence
• Collecting and combining data
• Explaining the synthesis
• Summarizing the findings

Source: Foster, M. J., & Jewell, S. T. (Eds.). (2017). Assembling the pieces of a systematic review: A guide for librarians. Rowman & Littlefield.

Learn more: Parker, R., & Sikora, L. (2022). Literature reviews: Key considerations and tips from knowledge synthesis librarians. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 14(1), 32-35. https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-21-01114.1