Systematic Review Dissertation Example

What is a Systematic Review?

A review is essential for learning about the existing literature on a certain subject, but not all reviews are made equal. The systematic review differs from other types of reviews in that it employs a strict approach designed to reduce bias throughout the review process. A formal and organized strategy is used while conducting a systematic review, starting with creating a clear research topic and a protocol to direct the procedure.

• Develop a research question.
• Establish a protocol
• Search all related academic works
• Apply the selection criteria.
• Data extraction
• Integrate the information
• Create a report.

The crux of a systematic review lies in its ability to respond comprehensively to the research question by amalgamating all available evidence while assessing its quality. This synthesis involves integrating diverse sources of information to present a unified and coherent narrative.

The evidence synthesis can be conducted through either a qualitative, quantitative, or hybrid approach, each involving a distinct methodology tailored to the specific research question. Ultimately, this systematic and rigorous process generates a compelling and comprehensive review that is a critical resource for researchers and policymakers.

For comprehensive information on qualitative and quantitative approaches, check out these links.

1. Qualitative Dissertation Examples
2. Quantitative Dissertation Examples

Tips and Best Practices

Here are some tips and best practices for conducting a successful systematic review:

A.  Develop a Clear and Concise Research Question

Defining a precise, concise, and relevant research question is the first stage of conducting a systematic review dissertation. The research question needs to be topic-specific and built on a survey of the body of previous research. Additionally, the research topic must be both wide enough to provide a thorough study of the literature and specific enough to be doable within the confines of the project.

Review this article for detailed assistance in developing research questions.

• Expert Tips on How to Write a Research Question with Real Examples

B.  Develop a Comprehensive and Systematic Search Strategy

Once the research question has been formulated, crafting a comprehensive search strategy is an indispensable component of the systematic review process. It requires an exhaustive search across diverse databases and search engines, utilizing relevant keywords and search terms relevant to the research question.

It is imperative to document the search strategy, incorporating the databases and search engines utilized, the search terms employed, and any exclusion criteria. The comprehensive documentation of the search strategy is critical in ensuring the reproducibility and transparency of the systematic review process.

C.  Define Clear Inclusion Criteria

Defining inclusion criteria is a crucial stage in the systematic review process since it specifies which papers should be chosen as relevant to the research topic and included in the review. These inclusion criteria depend on various elements, including the research design, publication date, language, and location.

To ensure that the review is handled consistently and transparently, developing and recording the inclusion criteria is essential. Such a careful method of determining the inclusion criteria guarantees the review is carried out in a rigorous and systematic way, as well as helps in the replication and validation of the study results.

D.  Conduct Data Extraction in a Systematic and Consistent Manner

Data extraction is critical to the systematic review process, entailing the collection of relevant data from the selected studies. It may encompass data on the study design, population, intervention, and outcome measures.

Data extraction necessitates a rigorous and standardized approach, with meticulous documentation to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data. A consistent and systematic approach to data extraction is vital to the credibility and validity of the systematic review, guaranteeing that the synthesis of evidence is comprehensive and reflective of the research question.

E.  Analyze the Data Rigorously and Transparently

After the data has been extracted from the chosen research, the analysis of the data—which may be carried out using quantitative, qualitative, or a mix of both methods—is the next critical stage. The analysis should be done carefully and clearly based on the research topic and the predetermined inclusion criteria.

A rigorous and open approach to data analysis is essential to guarantee that the review results are reliable and correctly reflect the synthesized evidence. Applying a thorough and reliable analytical approach is essential to develop solid and persuading observations in the systematic review.

F.  Interpret the Findings Based on a Rigorous and Transparent Process.

The ultimate stage of a systematic review entails the interpretation of the study findings by synthesizing the data extracted from the included studies and drawing convincing conclusions pertinent to the research question. The interpretation process necessitates a proper and transparent approach rooted in a rigorous analytical framework.

The outcomes of the interpretation process should be presented unambiguously and concisely to facilitate comprehension and understanding by the relevant stakeholders. A robust interpretation process is fundamental to developing evidence-based recommendations and guiding clinical practice and research endeavours in the related domain.