Tips for a Systematic Literature Review

 

A systematic literature review is a comprehensive and critical analysis of existing literature on a particular research topic. It is an essential component of a dissertation for a master’s degree, and it requires a significant amount of time and effort. In this blog post, we will provide some helpful tips and guidance for master’s students in the UK who are undertaking a systematic literature review dissertation.

Understand the purpose of a systematic literature review

The first step in writing a systematic literature review dissertation is to understand its purpose. The purpose of a literature review is to identify, analyze, and evaluate the existing literature on a specific research question or topic. It involves a systematic and comprehensive search of relevant literature, followed by a critical evaluation of the quality, relevance, and significance of the studies.

 

Develop a clear research question

1. While developing a clear research question, some of the common problems encountered include:
2. a) The question is too broad: A research question should be specific and focused. If the topic is too broad, it may be difficult to develop a clear and concise question that can be adequately answered within the scope of the research.
3. b) The question is too narrow: Students won’t be able to find sufficient literature on their topic and therefore would need to change their research question A research question should be feasible and realistic given the available data and resources. If the question requires data or resources that are unavailable or difficult to obtain, it may be difficult to conduct the research.
4. c) The researcher is aiming to undertake a qualitative study, but the question is quantitative- A research question should be based on a theoretical framework or existing literature in the field. If there is no theoretical framework or existing literature to guide the research question, it may be difficult to design a valid and reliable study.
5. d) Research question is not valid- Students often propose a research question which can easily be Googled to obtain a response. In this case, there is no need for a systematic review. A research question should be based on a theoretical framework or existing literature in the field. If there is no theoretical framework or existing literature to guide the research question, it may be difficult to design a valid and reliable study.

A remedy here is to pick an area of interest, get into databases, research around the topic and obtain primary studies before formulating a research question. This way we would surely know the expanse of literature available and we would be able to decide upon a definite direction in which we would take the review. 

The second step is to develop a clear research question that will guide your literature search and analysis. The research question should be specific, well-defined, and focused on a particular topic. It should also be broad enough to allow for a comprehensive review of the literature.

Conduct a comprehensive literature search

1. We would need to form keyword strings with the help of AND and OR operators. (Include “Search Terms Table” as an image) –

The AND operator is used to combine multiple keywords together in a way that all the keywords must be present in the search results. For example:

“apple AND banana” – this will return search results that contain both “apple” and “banana”.

The OR operator is used to combine multiple keywords together in a way that any of the keywords can be present in the search results. For example:

“apple OR banana” – this will return search results that contain either “apple” or “banana” or both.

Here are some examples of keyword strings using both AND and OR operators:

“pizza AND (pepperoni OR sausage OR mushroom)” – this will return search results that contain the word “pizza” and at least one of the words “pepperoni”, “sausage”, or “mushroom”.

“(cat OR dog OR bird) AND (food OR nutrition)” – this will return search results that contain at least one of the words “cat”, “dog”, or “bird”, as well as at least one of the words “food” or “nutrition”.

“football AND (team OR player OR coach)” – this will return search results that contain the word “football” and at least one of the words “team”, “player”, or “coach”.

The third step is to conduct a comprehensive literature search. This involves searching multiple databases, such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus, to identify relevant studies. You should also consider using reference lists of relevant articles and hand-searching key journals in your field.

 

 

1. Applying search limits can help to improve the quality and relevance of the sources used in research. Some common search limits include:

• Peer-reviewed sources: Peer-reviewed sources have been evaluated by experts in the field to ensure that the research is of high quality and meets established standards. Including only peer-reviewed sources can help ensure that the information used is accurate and reliable.
• Time frame: Setting a time frame for sources can help to ensure that the information used is current and up-to-date. For example, excluding sources that are older than 5 years can help ensure that the research is not based on outdated information.
• Language: Limiting the sources to a specific language can help to ensure that the researcher is able to understand and accurately interpret the information presented.
• Geographic region: Depending on the research topic, it may be useful to limit sources to a specific geographic region in order to obtain information that is relevant to the study area.
• Publication type: Limiting sources to specific types of publications (such as academic journals or books) can help to ensure that the information used is of a certain quality or comes from a specific perspective.

 

1. These strings when individually used in databases would provide a number of papers.

Research strings, also known as search terms or search queries, are combinations of keywords and phrases that are used to search for relevant literature in academic databases. When individually used in databases, each search string will typically retrieve a number of papers that are relevant to the specific terms included in the search.

For example, if a researcher is interested in exploring the relationship between social media use and mental health, some search strings that they could use include:

• Social media AND mental health
• Online social networking AND psychological well-being
• Social media addiction AND mental health
• Instagram AND depression

Each of these search strings would provide a different set of papers that are relevant to the specific terms used. The researcher can then evaluate the relevance and quality of each paper to determine which ones are most useful for their research question.

 

1. The PRISMA Flow Chart is a visual representation of the systematic review process that outlines the flow of studies throughout the review. It is used to document the process of screening and selecting studies, and to provide a transparent record of how studies were identified and included in the final analysis. The flow chart typically includes the following steps:

• Identification: This step involves searching for relevant studies in databases and other sources.
• Screening: The first stage of screening involves reviewing the titles of the studies to exclude those that are clearly irrelevant. The second stage involves reviewing the abstracts of the remaining studies to further exclude those that do not meet the inclusion criteria.
• Eligibility: This step involves reviewing the full-text of the remaining studies to determine whether they meet the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the review.
• Included: The final step involves including the studies that meet the eligibility criteria in the systematic review and meta-analysis.

 

Evaluating the Quality of Literature

Once you have identified relevant literature, you need to evaluate the quality of the studies. This involves assessing the study design, sample size, data collection methods, and analysis techniques. You should also assess the credibility and validity of the study.

1. a) This is done via the usage of a quality assessment tool (usually CASP or JBI)

Two commonly used quality assessment tools are the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. Both tools are designed to assess the quality of different types of studies, such as randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies.

Example:

The CASP tool is a series of checklists that are used to evaluate the quality of studies based on factors such as the study design, sample size, and statistical analysis. The JBI tool is a comprehensive checklist that assesses a range of factors, including study design, methodology, and data analysis.

When using these tools, it is important to keep in mind that quality assessment is a subjective process and that different assessors may interpret the same evidence differently. It is therefore important to ensure that assessors are trained in the use of the tool and that there is consistency in the application of the tool across different studies.

1. b) Finally shortlisted papers are ranked on various parameters such as bias, validity, generalisability of findings, credibility of authors, methods used etc so as to determine their quality. Shortlisted papers are typically evaluated based on several criteria, such as the quality of the research design and methodology, the soundness of the statistical analysis, the credibility and expertise of the authors, the relevance of the findings to the research question or hypothesis, the generalizability of the results, and the potential impact and implications of the study. Other factors that may be considered include the novelty and originality of the research, the clarity and coherence of the writing, the ethical considerations involved in conducting the research, and the potential for biases or confounding factors to influence the results. Ultimately, the goal of evaluating papers in this way is to identify those that represent high-quality research and contribute meaningfully to the existing body of knowledge in a given field.

 

Synthesizing the Findings

1. a) After evaluating the literature, you need to synthesize the findings. This involves organizing the literature into categories or themes and analyzing the results. You should identify commonalities, discrepancies, and gaps in the literature.

Synthesizing findings is an important step in research that involves analyzing and combining the results of multiple studies to draw conclusions or identify patterns.

• Content analysis is a qualitative research method that involves systematically analyzing and interpreting textual or visual data to identify recurring themes or patterns. It can be used to synthesize findings from multiple studies by analyzing the content of the studies’ results sections or other relevant sections.
• Meta-analysis, on the other hand, is a quantitative research method that involves combining the results of multiple studies to estimate an overall effect size. Meta-analysis can be used to synthesize findings from studies that have measured the same outcome using similar methods.

Both content analysis and meta-analysis can be used to synthesize findings from multiple studies, but they differ in their approach and the types of data they analyze. Researchers should choose the most appropriate method based on their research question and the nature of the data they are synthesizing.

1. b) When synthesizing findings, it is common practice to focus on a set of shortlisted studies that were obtained from a database search. These studies are typically chosen based on predetermined criteria such as relevance to the research question, study design, sample size, and quality of the research methods.

By focusing on a set of shortlisted studies, researchers can reduce the amount of data they need to analyze and increase the likelihood of identifying meaningful patterns or themes. Additionally, this approach allows researchers to focus on studies that are most relevant to their research question, which can help ensure the synthesis is focused and meaningful.

Once the shortlisted studies have been identified, researchers can use content analysis or meta-analysis to synthesize the findings. Content analysis involves analyzing the textual or visual data within each study to identify patterns or themes, while meta-analysis involves combining the numerical data from each study to estimate an overall effect size. Both methods can be useful depending on the nature of the data and the research question.

1. c) Draws on frameworks discussed in the literature review section.

When synthesizing findings in a research study, it is important to draw on frameworks discussed in the literature review section. The literature review provides a comprehensive overview of existing research and identifies relevant theories, concepts, and frameworks that can help guide the analysis and interpretation of the findings.

Frameworks discussed in the literature review can help provide a structure for the synthesis of the findings. For example, if the research question is focused on exploring the factors that contribute to a particular behavior or outcome, a theoretical framework such as the Social Ecological Model can be used to guide the analysis of the findings. Similarly, if the research question is focused on identifying the key themes or patterns in the data, a thematic analysis framework such as Braun and Clarke’s six-step process can be used to guide the synthesis.

Using frameworks from the literature review can also help ensure that the synthesis is rigorous and transparent. By drawing on established frameworks, researchers can demonstrate that their analysis is grounded in established theory and methods, and that the findings are interpreted within a broader context of existing research. This can help increase the credibility and trustworthiness of the research findings.

 

1. d) Answers the Research Question

 

To synthesize the findings and answer the research question, it is important to first summarize the main results of the study. The synthesis should highlight the key findings and their implications for the research question.

The ideal synthesis of findings will typically involve several steps. These include:

• Summarizing the research question: Start by restating the research question and the specific aims of the study.
• Outlining the research methodology: Briefly describe the research methodology used, including the data sources, data collection techniques, and any statistical or qualitative analysis methods.
• Presenting the main findings: Summarize the main findings of the study, including any significant patterns or relationships that emerged from the data.
• Analyzing the implications of the findings: Discuss the implications of the findings for the research question, and highlight any unexpected or surprising results.
• Identifying limitations and future research directions: Finally, identify any limitations of the study and suggest future research directions to further explore the research question.

Overall, the ideal synthesis of findings will present a clear and concise overview of the research question, methodology, and main findings of the study, while also highlighting the implications of the results and identifying future research directions.

 

1. Appendices

The appendices section is an important part of a systematic literature review (SLR) because it provides additional information and details that may not be suitable for inclusion in the main body of the review but are relevant to the research question or topic being studied.

The appendices may include, but are not limited to:

• Search Strategy: A detailed description of the search strategy, including the databases searched, the search terms used, and any filters applied. This will help readers understand the scope of the literature search and ensure that the search is replicable.
• Screening Process: A table or flowchart outlining the screening process used to identify relevant studies, including the number of articles screened at each stage and the reasons for exclusion.
• Quality Assessment: A table or summary of the quality assessment of the included studies. This may include the criteria used for assessing quality, the number of studies meeting each criterion, and a summary of the overall quality of the studies.
• Data Extraction: A table or summary of the data extracted from the included studies. This may include the study design, sample size, population characteristics, interventions or exposures, outcomes, and any other relevant data.
• Supplementary Tables/Figures: Additional tables or figures that provide more detailed information on the results or findings of the review.
• Other Supporting Information: Any additional information that is relevant to the review but not included in the main text, such as author affiliations or funding sources.

Including these details in the appendices section can increase the transparency and rigor of the review, and allow readers to assess the quality and validity of the review more easily.

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Writing the Dissertation

The final step in conducting a systematic literature review is to write your dissertation. Your dissertation should include an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. You should clearly state your research question, summarize the literature, describe your methodology, present your findings, and provide recommendations for future research.

In conclusion, writing a systematic literature review dissertation can be a daunting task, but by following these steps, you can successfully complete your dissertation. Remember to stay focused, be systematic, and critically evaluate the literature. With these tips, you can produce a high-quality dissertation that makes a meaningful contribution to your field of study.

How WritoSpark can help you with SLR ?

WritoSpark  can offer a range of services to help with a systematic literature review, including:

Literature Search: We  can assist in conducting a comprehensive literature search by using various electronic databases and other relevant sources. They can also help to identify relevant keywords and search terms to ensure that the search is comprehensive and focused.

Screening and Selection: We can assist in screening and selecting relevant studies based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This can be done using software programs that help to manage the process and keep track of the studies that have been included and excluded.

Quality Assessment: We can help to assess the quality of the studies that have been included in the review. This involves evaluating the study design, sample size, data collection methods, and analysis techniques used in the studies.

Data Extraction: We  can help to extract relevant data from the studies that have been included in the review. This involves developing a data extraction form and using it to extract data from each study.

Data Synthesis: We can help to synthesize the data that has been extracted from the studies. This involves analyzing the data and identifying common themes, patterns, and discrepancies.

Report Writing: We can help to write the systematic literature review report. This involves structuring the report, presenting the findings, and making recommendations for future research.

Overall, Writospark  can offer support and guidance throughout the systematic literature review process. They can help to ensure that the review is conducted efficiently and accurately, and that the findings are presented in a clear and concise manner. This can be particularly helpful for students who are new to the process or who may have limited time or resources to complete the review themselves.