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Systematic Reviews: What is a Systematic Review?

Learn what a systematic review is, check-out helpful links and library resources, plus where to go for assistance.

Information taken and adapted from Cochrane Consumers and Communication. Animated Storyboard: What are Systematic Reviews.Retrieved October 31, 2023 from https://cccrg.cochrane.org/animated-storyboard-what-are-systematic-reviews 

Cochrane Consumers and Communication. Infographics: The Concept of a Systematic Review. Retrieved November 22, 2023 from https://cccrg.cochrane.org/infographics

Systematic Reviews Defined

A systematic review attempts to collate all empirical evidence that fits pre-specified eligibility criteria in order to answer a specific research question. The key characteristics of a systematic review are:

  • A clearly stated set of objectives with pre-defined eligibility criteria for studies
  • An explicit, reproducible methodology
  • A systematic search that attempts to identify all studies that would meet the eligibility criteria
  • An assessment of the validity of the findings of the included studies
  • A systematic presentation, and synthesis, of the characteristics and findings of the included studies