Systematic Reviews
Systematic literature reviews step by step — framing the review question, search strings and databases, PRISMA screening and flow diagrams, quality appraisal, and synthesis that journals accept.
All Systematic Reviews guides
4 articles
PRISMA Flow Diagram: How to Build and Report It (PRISMA 2020)
The PRISMA 2020 flow diagram maps every record from database search to final inclusion. What goes in each box, how to keep the numbers consistent, and the mistakes reviewers catch instantly.
What is Meta-Analysis? Pooling Evidence the Right Way
Meta-analysis pools effect sizes from many studies into one weighted estimate. The core concepts — effect sizes, fixed vs random effects, heterogeneity, forest and funnel plots — explained without the algebra.
A Step-by-Step PRISMA Systematic Review Workflow
Turn a messy literature search into a transparent, reproducible systematic review with PRISMA — from protocol to flow diagram, step by step.
How to Write a Literature Review That Examiners Respect
A literature review is an argument, not a catalogue. Here's how to move from listing papers to synthesising them into a case for your own study.
Put it into practice
Free tools, templates and mentoring connected to systematic reviews.
Frequently asked
How is a systematic review different from a normal literature review?+
A systematic review follows an explicit, reproducible protocol — predefined search strings, databases, inclusion/exclusion criteria and screening steps, reported through PRISMA. A narrative review is broader and interpretive, without the protocol.
Can a systematic review be my whole PhD chapter or paper?+
Yes — well-executed SLRs are publishable in their own right and increasingly form a thesis chapter. Journals expect PRISMA compliance, a defensible database set, and genuine synthesis rather than study-by-study summary.
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