Preparing for a Comprehensive Literature Review

The following resources will be helpful in determining the process involved in carrying out different types of reviews.

Scoping Reviews

• Johanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis Chapter 11:  Scoping Reviews
• Arksey, H., & O'Malley, L. (2005). Scoping Studies: Towards a Methodological Framework. International Journal Of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19-32. doi:10.1080/1364557032000119616
• Daudt et al. (2013). Enhancing the scoping study methodology: a large, inter-professional team’s experience with Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. BMC Medical Research Methodology 13:48. doi:10.1186/1471-2288-13-48
• Levac, D., Colquhoun, H., & O'Brien, K. K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 569-77. doi:10.1186/1748-5908-5-69

Systematic Reviews

• Cochrane Library Interactive Learning Modules (self-directed modules on all aspects of developing a Cochrane systematic review)
• Systematic Reviews:  CRD’s guidance for undertaking reviews in health care  A straightforward guide to undertaking a systematic review produced by the University of York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.
• The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions  Membership in a Cochrane Review Group is required for access to v.5.2, but v. 5.1 is accessible to all and can provide guidance for those wishing to do a rigorous systematic review even if it is not conducted under the auspices of Cochrane. 
• Joanna Briggs Reviewers' Manual.
• Shenkin, S. D., Harrison, J. K., Wilkinson, T., Dodds, R. M., & Ioannidis, J. A. (2017). Systematic reviews: guidance relevant for studies of older people. Age & Ageing, 46(5), 722-728. doi:10.1093/ageing/afx105
• Butler, A., Hall, H., & Copnell, B. (2016). A guide to writing a qualitative systematic review protocol to enhance evidence-based practice in nursing and health care. Worldviews On Evidence-Based Nursing, 13(3), 241-249. doi:10.1111/wvn.12134
• Methodological Standards for the Conduct of new Cochrane Intervention Reviews.
• PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses.  
  • David Moher, Alessandro Liberati, Jennifer Tetzlaff, & Douglas G Altman. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, Vol 6, Iss 7, p E1000097 (2009), (7), e1000097. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097.
• STROBE Statement (Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology)

Integrative/Mixed Methods Reviews

• Whittemore, R., & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: Updated methodology. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 546-553. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x
• The Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers' Manual 2014:  Methodology for JBI Mixed Methods Systematic Reviews

Rapid Reviews

• Maureen Dobbins.  Rapid Review Guidebook:  Steps for conducting a rapid review (National Collaborating Centre for Methods & Tools)
• David Moher, Adrienne Stevens and Chantelle Garritty.  Introduction to rapid reviews.  (Recording of a Cochrane Canada Webinar.  
• Virgiinia Commonwealth University.  Rapid Review Protocol.  

Qualitative Reviews

• Sandelowski, M., & Barroso, Julie.  (2007).  Handbook for synthesizing qualitative research.  New York:  Springer.
• Saini, M.  (2012).  Systematic synthesis of qualitative research.  New York:  Oxford University Press.  (Also available in print.  Click here for availability.)
• Hannes, K.  & Lockwood, C.  (2012).  Synthesizing qualitative research:  Choosing the right approach.  Chichester, UK:  Wiley-Blackwell.  (Also available in print.  Click here for availability.)
• Butler, A., Hall, H., & Copnell, B. (2016). A guide to writing a qualitative systematic review protocol to enhance evidence-based practice in nursing and health care. Worldviews On Evidence-Based Nursing, 13(3), 241–249. doi:10.1111/wvn.12134
• Jones, M.L. (2004).  Application of systematic review methods to qualitative research: Practical issues. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 48(3), 271–278. 

Realist Reviews

• Emmel, Nick,  Joanne Greenhalgh, Ana Manzano, Mark Monaghan, Sonia Dalkin.  Doing Realist Research.  
• RAMESES (Realist and Meta-Narrative Evidence Syntheses:  Evolving Standards) Projects