systematic literature review books

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An Introduction to Systematic Reviews

• David Gough - EPPI-Centre, University College London, UK
• Sandy Oliver - University College London, UK
• James Thomas - University College London, UK
• Description

Focused on actively using systematic review as method, this book provides clear, step-by-step advice on the logic and processes of systematic reviewing.

Stressing the importance of precision and accuracy, this new edition carefully balances a need for insightful theory with real-world pragmatism; it introduces a wide range of cutting-edge approaches to research synthesis including text mining, living reviews and new ideas in mixed methods reviews such as qualitative comparative analysis.

The book also includes:

• A new chapter on statistical synthesis
• Coverage of computer-assisted methods and relevant software
• Expanded sections on data extraction and management
• A guide to working with many different types of data including longitudinal and panel.

Packed with examples from across the social sciences, this book helps students and researchers alike in turning systematic reviews into recommendations for policy and practice.

"An excellent introduction to systematic review delivered in an accessible style and logical format. This new edition encourages thoughtful consideration of key methodological concepts in the generation and conduct of systematic reviews and embraces recent advances in review synthesis methods. Useful to researchers and students at all levels."

"[This] book is written in a very accessible style, supported with examples of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses at all stages of synthesis....The step-by-step structure and clear labelling of this book make it the ideal systematic review resource for students and researchers at all levels."

We currently do not have a user friendly guide for our students to conducting a systematic review. Therefore, this textbook will be one of the key texts recommended. The assessment on the module regards carrying out a systematic review on a chronic condition of the student's choice.

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Literature Reviews

Modern Methods for Investigating Scientific and Technological Knowledge

• © 2021
• Ana Paula Cardoso Ermel   ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3874-9792 0 ,
• D. P. Lacerda   ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8011-3376 1 ,
• Maria Isabel W. M. Morandi   ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1337-1487 2 ,
• Leandro Gauss   ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5708-5912 3

Production and Systems Engineering, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, Brazil

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

• Offers a new method of reviewing, analysing, and synthesising scientific literature into a systematic review
• Presents computational tools to aid in this technique
• Provides several illustrative examples of the methodology in action

10k Accesses

16 Citations

2 Altmetric

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About this book

This book begins by introducing the topic of knowledge in literature, including its scientific foundations. Due to the ever-increasing number of scientific publications, literature reviews are becoming more and more essential to stay updated.  Literature Reviews  describes an innovative system for creating systematic literature reviews, through reviewing, analyzing, and synthesizing scientific and technological literature.

It then discusses systematic literature reviews, content analysis, and literature synthesis separately, before presenting the methodology to combine them in one process. It showcases computational tools to aid in this technique and offers examples of the method in action. Finally, the book takes a new of future developments in the subject.

This book is of interest to graduate students, as well as researchers and academics, helping them to deepen insights and improve skills needed to conduct thorough literature reviews.

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Literature Reviews and Systematic Reviews of Research: The Roles and Importance

Literature Reviews: An Overview of Systematic, Integrated, and Scoping Reviews

Systematic Literature Review

• Literature Grounded Theory

Literature Analysis

Literature synthesis.

• Content Analysis
• Meta-Analysis

Table of contents (10 chapters)

Front matter, introduction.

Ana Paula Cardoso Ermel, D. P. Lacerda, Maria Isabel W. M. Morandi, Leandro Gauss

Scientific Contributions of Systematic Literature Reviews: Fundamentals in Karl Popper

Literature grounded theory (lgt), computational tools for literature review, analysis, and synthesis, what to consider in a systematic literature review: three examples from design science research, future perspectives, correction to: literature reviews, authors and affiliations, about the authors.

Ana Paula Cardoso Ermel  holds a Master's degree in Production and Systems Engineering (UNISINOS) and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (URI). She has extensive knowledge in the implementation of quality management systems in the metalworking industry and holds the position of a permanent researcher at the Research Group on Modeling for Learning (GMAP | UNISINOS).

Daniel Pacheco Lacerda  holds a Doctoral degree in Production and Systems Engineering (COPPE/UFRJ) and Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (UNISINOS and SJT). He is a permanent researcher and associate professor in the Graduate Program of Production and Systems Engineering at UNISINOS University. In this same institution, he coordinates the Undergraduate Program of Production and Systems Engineering, and the Research Group on Modeling for Learning (GMAP | UNISINOS). Over the last ten years, he accumulated a list of academic recognitions within and outside Braziland has been recently identified as the 12th most prolific author on the Theory of Constraints worldwide. He has published numerous journal articles and eighteen books.

Maria Isabel Wolf Motta Morandi  holds Doctoral and Master’s degrees in Production and Systems Engineering (UNISINOS), a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry Engineering (UFRGS), and Specializations in Management and Logistics (FGV). She is a permanent researcher and coordinator at the Research Group on Modeling for Learning (GMAP | UNISINOS) and an associate professor in the Undergraduate Program of Production and Systems Engineering at UNISINOS University. She also has 18 years of experience as an executive in the chemical industry, 13 years of experience in specialized consultancies for multinational companies, as well as extensive knowledge in applied research regarding systems thinking, systems dynamics, discrete-event simulation, and mathematical modeling.

Leandro Gauss  holdsa Master's degree in Production and Systems Engineering (UNISINOS) and a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering (ULBRA). For more than seventeen years, he has been working on the design process of capital goods for manufacturing environments within and outside Brazil, and since 2018 integrates the Research Group on Modeling for Learning (GMAP | UNISINOS) as a permanent researcher. He is also an assistant professor in the Undergraduate Program of Production and Systems Engineering at UNISINOS University,  and in the last two years received awards for best article and dissertation at master's level from the two most renowned Production Engineering Associations in Brazil (ANPEPRO and ABEPRO).

Bibliographic Information

Book Title : Literature Reviews

Book Subtitle : Modern Methods for Investigating Scientific and Technological Knowledge

Authors : Ana Paula Cardoso Ermel, D. P. Lacerda, Maria Isabel W. M. Morandi, Leandro Gauss

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75722-9

Publisher : Springer Cham

eBook Packages : Education , Education (R0)

Copyright Information : The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021

Hardcover ISBN : 978-3-030-75721-2 Published: 31 August 2021

Softcover ISBN : 978-3-030-75724-3 Published: 01 September 2022

eBook ISBN : 978-3-030-75722-9 Published: 30 August 2021

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XVII, 202

Number of Illustrations : 18 b/w illustrations, 73 illustrations in colour

Topics : Research Skills , Thesis and Dissertation , Research Methods in Education , Operations Research, Management Science , Operations Management

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Systematic Literature Reviews: An Introduction

• Proceedings of the Design Society International Conference on Engineering Design 1(1):1633-1642
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• Systematic Reviews

Systematic Reviews: Home

Created by health science librarians.

• Systematic review resources

What is a Systematic Review?

A simplified process map, how can the library help, publications by hsl librarians, systematic reviews in non-health disciplines, resources for performing systematic reviews.

• Step 1: Complete Pre-Review Tasks
• Step 2: Develop a Protocol
• Step 3: Conduct Literature Searches
• Step 4: Manage Citations
• Step 5: Screen Citations
• Step 6: Assess Quality of Included Studies
• Step 7: Extract Data from Included Studies
• Step 8: Write the Review

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  Request a systematic or scoping review consultation

A systematic review is a literature review that gathers all of the available evidence matching pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question. It uses explicit, systematic methods, documented in a protocol, to minimize bias , provide reliable findings , and inform decision-making.  ¹  

There are many types of literature reviews.

Before beginning a systematic review, consider whether it is the best type of review for your question, goals, and resources. The table below compares a few different types of reviews to help you decide which is best for you. 

• Scoping Review Guide For more information about scoping reviews, refer to the UNC HSL Scoping Review Guide.

• UNC HSL's Simplified, Step-by-Step Process Map A PDF file of the HSL's Systematic Review Process Map.
• Text-Only: UNC HSL's Systematic Reviews - A Simplified, Step-by-Step Process A text-only PDF file of HSL's Systematic Review Process Map.

The average systematic review takes 1,168 hours to complete. ¹   A librarian can help you speed up the process.

Systematic reviews follow established guidelines and best practices to produce high-quality research. Librarian involvement in systematic reviews is based on two levels. In Tier 1, your research team can consult with the librarian as needed. The librarian will answer questions and give you recommendations for tools to use. In Tier 2, the librarian will be an active member of your research team and co-author on your review. Roles and expectations of librarians vary based on the level of involvement desired. Examples of these differences are outlined in the table below.

• Request a systematic or scoping review consultation

The following are systematic and scoping reviews co-authored by HSL librarians.

Only the most recent 15 results are listed. Click the website link at the bottom of the list to see all reviews co-authored by HSL librarians in PubMed

Researchers conduct systematic reviews in a variety of disciplines.  If your focus is on a topic outside of the health sciences, you may want to also consult the resources below to learn how systematic reviews may vary in your field.  You can also contact a librarian for your discipline with questions.

• EPPI-Centre methods for conducting systematic reviews The EPPI-Centre develops methods and tools for conducting systematic reviews, including reviews for education, public and social policy.

Environmental Topics

• Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE) CEE seeks to promote and deliver evidence syntheses on issues of greatest concern to environmental policy and practice as a public service

Social Sciences

• Siddaway AP, Wood AM, Hedges LV. How to Do a Systematic Review: A Best Practice Guide for Conducting and Reporting Narrative Reviews, Meta-Analyses, and Meta-Syntheses. Annu Rev Psychol. 2019 Jan 4;70:747-770. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-102803. A resource for psychology systematic reviews, which also covers qualitative meta-syntheses or meta-ethnographies
• The Campbell Collaboration

Social Work

Software engineering

• Guidelines for Performing Systematic Literature Reviews in Software Engineering The objective of this report is to propose comprehensive guidelines for systematic literature reviews appropriate for software engineering researchers, including PhD students.

Sport, Exercise, & Nutrition

• Application of systematic review methodology to the field of nutrition by Tufts Evidence-based Practice Center Publication Date: 2009
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis — Open & Free (Open Learning Initiative) The course follows guidelines and standards developed by the Campbell Collaboration, based on empirical evidence about how to produce the most comprehensive and accurate reviews of research

• Systematic Reviews by David Gough, Sandy Oliver & James Thomas Publication Date: 2020

Updating reviews

• Updating systematic reviews by University of Ottawa Evidence-based Practice Center Publication Date: 2007
• Next: Step 1: Complete Pre-Review Tasks >>
• Last Updated: Jul 15, 2024 4:55 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.unc.edu/systematic-reviews

Evidence Synthesis and Systematic Reviews

• Question Formulation
• Common Review Types
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• Resources for Reviews by Discipline and Type
• Tools for Evidence Synthesis
• Grey Literature

Evidence Synthesis Books Available at Temple Libraries

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Doing a Systematic Review

• Step 1: Your Research Question, Frameworks and Creating a Protocol
• Step 2: Choosing Where to Search
• Step 3: Developing a Search Strategy
• Step 4: Running & Recording your Search
• Step 5: Managing your Search Results
• Step 6: Evaluating & Sifting the Results
• Step 7: Writing it up - Including PRISMA Diagrams

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Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review Third Edition

The perfect project support for any social sciences student, this edition also includes a new chapter on analysing mixed methods research.

• ISBN-10 1529711843
• ISBN-13 978-1529711844
• Edition Third
• Publisher SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date April 20, 2022
• Language English
• Dimensions 6.69 x 0.96 x 9.53 inches
• Print length 424 pages
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ SAGE Publications Ltd; Third edition (April 20, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 424 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1529711843
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1529711844
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.69 x 0.96 x 9.53 inches
• #195 in Reference (Books)
• #237 in Research Reference Books
• #6,328 in Study Guides & Workbooks

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Jocelyn boisvert.

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Selected Reads

A blog for bibliophiles covering everything related to books from reviews and summaries to quotes and open articles.

Books on How to Write a Literature Review

By Med Kharbach, PhD | Published: June 18, 2023 | Updated: June 6, 2024

Working on a literature review can feel like venturing into an intricate maze—there’s methodology, grey literature, style formatting guidelines, and so much more to master. That’s why I’ve curated a list of essential reads that serve as your personal map through this labyrinth. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the concept or you’ve been crafting literature reviews for years, these books offer invaluable insights to make your work comprehensive a\nd impactful.

For those of you scratching your heads thinking, “ What even is a literature review ?”—don’t sweat it. Take a quick detour to my earlier post, “What is a Literature Review,” to get the 411. Trust me, once you’ve got the basics down, these books will help you elevate your game to the next level.

Here is our collection of some very good books on how to write a literature review

1.  Published , by Thomas Deetjen

“Published” is a comprehensive guide that organizes the research process into seven clear phases, offering step-by-step instruction for each. The book is designed to take you through your research journey from the beginning to the end. It provides the clarity, direction, and encouragement you need to drive your project from the inception to the ultimate goal – publication.

2. Doing a Literature Review , by Chris Hart

“Doing a Literature Review” is a guide that illuminates the “what,” “how,” and “why” of literature reviewing. The book covers the literature review process from start to finish, introduces new chapters explaining different types of reviews and evidence evaluation, and offers extended examples for the application of key techniques and procedures.

The book couples a critical, philosophical approach with a selection of practical examples, equipping readers with both the intellectual understanding and the technical skills needed to produce high-quality literature reviews.

3. Doing a Systematic Review: A Student’s Guide , by Angela Boland (Editor), Gemma Cherry (Editor), Rumona Dickson (Editor)

“Doing a Systematic Review: A Student’s Guide” is a friendly, accessible manual from an expert team of authors with extensive experience in conducting and supervising systematic reviews.

The guide provides clear answers to all review-related questions, including formulating an appropriate review question, managing the review, developing a search strategy, getting started with data extraction, assessing the quality of a study, analyzing and synthesizing data, and writing up the discussion and conclusion sections of a dissertation or thesis.

4. An Introduction to Systematic Reviews , by David Gough  (Editor), Sandy Oliver (Editor), James Thomas (Editor)

“An Introduction to Systematic Reviews” is a hands-on guide that focuses on using systematic review as a research method. The book provides clear, step-by-step advice on the logic and processes of systematic reviewing, emphasizing the importance of precision and accuracy.

The second edition introduces a new chapter on statistical synthesis and innovative approaches to research synthesis, including text mining, living reviews, and qualitative comparative analysis in mixed methods reviews.

The book is filled with examples from across the social sciences, making it an invaluable resource for students and researchers seeking to turn systematic reviews into policy recommendations.

5. Introduction to Meta-Analysis , by Michael Borenstein, Larry V. Hedges, Julian P. T. Higgins, Hannah R. Rothstein 

“Introduction to Meta-Analysis” is written by four of the world’s leading authorities on meta-analysis. The updated edition presents an outline of meta-analysis in the research process, demonstrates how to compute effect sizes and treatment effects, and explains the fixed-effect and random-effects models for synthesizing data.

The book also helps in assessing and interpreting variation in effect size across studies, avoiding common mistakes in meta-analysis, and discussing controversies in meta-analysis. The book includes access to a companion website that provides step-by-step instructions for performing analyses using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA), along with additional resources.

6. Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review , by Andrew Booth, Anthea Sutton, Mark Clowes, Marrissa Martyn-St James

This book is a practical guide to conducting literature reviews, offering step-by-step processes that work with any data. “Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review” includes worksheets and decision aids to help plan and organize your literature review, worked examples and case studies for practical understanding, troubleshooting tips, and answers to frequently asked questions.

This edition also includes a new chapter on analyzing mixed methods research and provides online access to a literature review starter template, an exercise workbook, project diary template, and a source credibility checklist.

7. Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From the Internet to Paper , by Arlene G. Fink

Arlene G. Fink’s “Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From the Internet to Paper” provides an in-depth, accessible guide on how to synthesize research literature. It is an ideal resource for students, researchers, marketers, planners, and policymakers who are involved in designing and managing public and private agencies, conducting research studies, and preparing strategic plans and grant proposals.

The Fifth Edition of the book features new research, examples, and references from the social, behavioral, and health sciences, expanded coverage of qualitative research, updated and revised meta-analysis procedures, a new glossary of key terms, double the number of exercises, and additional examples of how to write reviews.

8. Systematic Reviews in Educational Research: Methodology, Perspectives and Application , by Olaf Zawacki-Richter et al 

This open access edited volume brings together international researchers in the field of education to describe and discuss the systematic review method as it applies to research in education. Alongside fundamental methodical considerations, reflections and practical examples are provided, offering an introduction and comprehensive overview of systematic reviews in educational research.

9. Searching the Grey Literature: A Handbook for Searching Reports, Working Papers, and Other Unpublished Research , by Sarah Bonato

“Searching the Grey Literature is an invaluable guide for researchers interested in expanding their knowledge about grey literature. Whether you’re faced with your first grey literature search request or you’re an experienced searcher finding that your patrons are unfamiliar with this vast body of literature, this book can help.

Providing effective strategies for crafting successful searches and teaching about the importance of grey literature, it is an important resource for librarians and other information professionals.

10. Publication Manual (OFFICIAL) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association , by American Psychological Association

“The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the official source for APA Style. With millions of copies sold worldwide in multiple languages, it is the style manual of choice for writers, researchers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, nursing, communications, education, business, engineering, and other fields.

Known for its authoritative, easy-to-use reference and citation system, the Publication Manual also offers guidance on choosing the headings, tables, figures, language, and tone that will result in powerful, concise, and elegant scholarly communication. It guides users through the scholarly writing process—from the ethics of authorship to reporting research through publication.”

11. The Literature Review: Six Steps to Success , by Lawrence A. Machi, Brenda T. McEvoy

“From daunting to doable in six steps, this book presents the process of literature review in a clear and straightforward manner. The authors walk students through every step of the process, including selecting a topic, searching the literature, developing arguments, surveying the literature, critiquing the literature, and writing the literature review.”

Final thoughts

As we round out this exploration of must-reads for crafting literature reviews, I can’t help but reflect on the transformative power of a well-executed review. It’s not just an academic exercise; it’s a meaningful contribution to your field, a way of synthesizing knowledge and creating a foundation for future research. Besides providing you with the “how-to”, these books delve into the nuances and complexities that make your review truly resonate.

I’ve personally found immense value in these resources, both in my days asa a doctoral student and in my current research work. The methodologies, guidelines, and tips covered are like an insider’s guide to academic writing. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, having a collection of solid guidebooks can make the difference between a literature review that’s just okay and one that sets the gold standard.

Related Posts

Meet Med Kharbach, PhD

Dr. Med Kharbach is an influential voice in the global educational landscape, with an extensive background in educational studies and a decade-long experience as a K-12 teacher. Holding a Ph.D. from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, he brings a unique perspective to the educational world by integrating his profound academic knowledge with his hands-on teaching experience. Dr. Kharbach's academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in various esteemed academic journals.

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Systematic approaches to a successful literature review

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Systematic reviews for health: books and articles about systematic reviews.

• Handbooks / Guidelines for Systematic Reviews
• Standards for Reporting
• Registering a Protocol
• Tools for Systematic Review
• Online Tutorials & Courses
• Books and Articles about Systematic Reviews
• Finding Systematic Reviews
• Critical Appraisal
• Library Help
• Bibliographic Databases
• Grey Literature
• Handsearching
• Citation Searching
• 1. Formulate the Research Question
• 2. Identify the Key Concepts
• 3. Develop Search Terms - Free-Text
• 4. Develop Search Terms - Controlled Vocabulary
• 5. Search Fields
• 6. Phrase Searching, Wildcards and Proximity Operators
• 7. Boolean Operators
• 8. Search Limits
• 9. Pilot Search Strategy & Monitor Its Development
• 10. Final Search Strategy
• 11. Adapt Search Syntax
• Documenting Search Strategies
• Handling Results & Storing Papers

Key Resources

• Bettany-Saltikov, J & Fernandes, T 2010, 'Learning how to undertake a systematic review: part 1', Nursing Standard (through 2013), vol. 24, no. 50, pp. 47-55; quiz 56. 
• Bettany-Saltikov, J 2010, 'Learning how to undertake a systematic review: part 2', Nursing Standard (through 2013), vol. 24, no. 51, pp. 47-56; quiz 58, 60. 

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How-to conduct a systematic literature review: A quick guide for computer science research

Angela carrera-rivera.

a Faculty of Engineering, Mondragon University

William Ochoa

Felix larrinaga.

b Design Innovation Center(DBZ), Mondragon University

Associated Data

• No data was used for the research described in the article.

Performing a literature review is a critical first step in research to understanding the state-of-the-art and identifying gaps and challenges in the field. A systematic literature review is a method which sets out a series of steps to methodically organize the review. In this paper, we present a guide designed for researchers and in particular early-stage researchers in the computer-science field. The contribution of the article is the following:

• • Clearly defined strategies to follow for a systematic literature review in computer science research, and
• • Algorithmic method to tackle a systematic literature review.

Graphical abstract

Specifications table

Method details

A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is a research methodology to collect, identify, and critically analyze the available research studies (e.g., articles, conference proceedings, books, dissertations) through a systematic procedure [12] . An SLR updates the reader with current literature about a subject [6] . The goal is to review critical points of current knowledge on a topic about research questions to suggest areas for further examination [5] . Defining an “Initial Idea” or interest in a subject to be studied is the first step before starting the SLR. An early search of the relevant literature can help determine whether the topic is too broad to adequately cover in the time frame and whether it is necessary to narrow the focus. Reading some articles can assist in setting the direction for a formal review., and formulating a potential research question (e.g., how is semantics involved in Industry 4.0?) can further facilitate this process. Once the focus has been established, an SLR can be undertaken to find more specific studies related to the variables in this question. Although there are multiple approaches for performing an SLR ( [5] , [26] , [27] ), this work aims to provide a step-by-step and practical guide while citing useful examples for computer-science research. The methodology presented in this paper comprises two main phases: “Planning” described in section 2, and “Conducting” described in section 3, following the depiction of the graphical abstract.

Defining the protocol is the first step of an SLR since it describes the procedures involved in the review and acts as a log of the activities to be performed. Obtaining opinions from peers while developing the protocol, is encouraged to ensure the review's consistency and validity, and helps identify when modifications are necessary [20] . One final goal of the protocol is to ensure the replicability of the review.

Define PICOC and synonyms

The PICOC (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Context) criteria break down the SLR's objectives into searchable keywords and help formulate research questions [ 27 ]. PICOC is widely used in the medical and social sciences fields to encourage researchers to consider the components of the research questions [14] . Kitchenham & Charters [6] compiled the list of PICOC elements and their corresponding terms in computer science, as presented in Table 1 , which includes keywords derived from the PICOC elements. From that point on, it is essential to think of synonyms or “alike” terms that later can be used for building queries in the selected digital libraries. For instance, the keyword “context awareness” can also be linked to “context-aware”.

Planning Step 1 “Defining PICOC keywords and synonyms”.

Formulate research questions

Clearly defined research question(s) are the key elements which set the focus for study identification and data extraction [21] . These questions are formulated based on the PICOC criteria as presented in the example in Table 2 (PICOC keywords are underlined).

Research questions examples.

Select digital library sources

The validity of a study will depend on the proper selection of a database since it must adequately cover the area under investigation [19] . The Web of Science (WoS) is an international and multidisciplinary tool for accessing literature in science, technology, biomedicine, and other disciplines. Scopus is a database that today indexes 40,562 peer-reviewed journals, compared to 24,831 for WoS. Thus, Scopus is currently the largest existing multidisciplinary database. However, it may also be necessary to include sources relevant to computer science, such as EI Compendex, IEEE Xplore, and ACM. Table 3 compares the area of expertise of a selection of databases.

Planning Step 3 “Select digital libraries”. Description of digital libraries in computer science and software engineering.

Define inclusion and exclusion criteria

Authors should define the inclusion and exclusion criteria before conducting the review to prevent bias, although these can be adjusted later, if necessary. The selection of primary studies will depend on these criteria. Articles are included or excluded in this first selection based on abstract and primary bibliographic data. When unsure, the article is skimmed to further decide the relevance for the review. Table 4 sets out some criteria types with descriptions and examples.

Planning Step 4 “Define inclusion and exclusion criteria”. Examples of criteria type.

Define the Quality Assessment (QA) checklist

Assessing the quality of an article requires an artifact which describes how to perform a detailed assessment. A typical quality assessment is a checklist that contains multiple factors to evaluate. A numerical scale is used to assess the criteria and quantify the QA [22] . Zhou et al. [25] presented a detailed description of assessment criteria in software engineering, classified into four main aspects of study quality: Reporting, Rigor, Credibility, and Relevance. Each of these criteria can be evaluated using, for instance, a Likert-type scale [17] , as shown in Table 5 . It is essential to select the same scale for all criteria established on the quality assessment.

Planning Step 5 “Define QA assessment checklist”. Examples of QA scales and questions.

Define the “Data Extraction” form

The data extraction form represents the information necessary to answer the research questions established for the review. Synthesizing the articles is a crucial step when conducting research. Ramesh et al. [15] presented a classification scheme for computer science research, based on topics, research methods, and levels of analysis that can be used to categorize the articles selected. Classification methods and fields to consider when conducting a review are presented in Table 6 .

Planning Step 6 “Define data extraction form”. Examples of fields.

The data extraction must be relevant to the research questions, and the relationship to each of the questions should be included in the form. Kitchenham & Charters [6] presented more pertinent data that can be captured, such as conclusions, recommendations, strengths, and weaknesses. Although the data extraction form can be updated if more information is needed, this should be treated with caution since it can be time-consuming. It can therefore be helpful to first have a general background in the research topic to determine better data extraction criteria.

After defining the protocol, conducting the review requires following each of the steps previously described. Using tools can help simplify the performance of this task. Standard tools such as Excel or Google sheets allow multiple researchers to work collaboratively. Another online tool specifically designed for performing SLRs is Parsif.al 1 . This tool allows researchers, especially in the context of software engineering, to define goals and objectives, import articles using BibTeX files, eliminate duplicates, define selection criteria, and generate reports.

Build digital library search strings

Search strings are built considering the PICOC elements and synonyms to execute the search in each database library. A search string should separate the synonyms with the boolean operator OR. In comparison, the PICOC elements are separated with parentheses and the boolean operator AND. An example is presented next:

(“Smart Manufacturing” OR “Digital Manufacturing” OR “Smart Factory”) AND (“Business Process Management” OR “BPEL” OR “BPM” OR “BPMN”) AND (“Semantic Web” OR “Ontology” OR “Semantic” OR “Semantic Web Service”) AND (“Framework” OR “Extension” OR “Plugin” OR “Tool”

Gather studies

Databases that feature advanced searches enable researchers to perform search queries based on titles, abstracts, and keywords, as well as for years or areas of research. Fig. 1 presents the example of an advanced search in Scopus, using titles, abstracts, and keywords (TITLE-ABS-KEY). Most of the databases allow the use of logical operators (i.e., AND, OR). In the example, the search is for “BIG DATA” and “USER EXPERIENCE” or “UX” as a synonym.

Example of Advanced search on Scopus.

In general, bibliometric data of articles can be exported from the databases as a comma-separated-value file (CSV) or BibTeX file, which is helpful for data extraction and quantitative and qualitative analysis. In addition, researchers should take advantage of reference-management software such as Zotero, Mendeley, Endnote, or Jabref, which import bibliographic information onto the software easily.

Study Selection and Refinement

The first step in this stage is to identify any duplicates that appear in the different searches in the selected databases. Some automatic procedures, tools like Excel formulas, or programming languages (i.e., Python) can be convenient here.

In the second step, articles are included or excluded according to the selection criteria, mainly by reading titles and abstracts. Finally, the quality is assessed using the predefined scale. Fig. 2 shows an example of an article QA evaluation in Parsif.al, using a simple scale. In this scenario, the scoring procedure is the following YES= 1, PARTIALLY= 0.5, and NO or UNKNOWN = 0 . A cut-off score should be defined to filter those articles that do not pass the QA. The QA will require a light review of the full text of the article.

Performing quality assessment (QA) in Parsif.al.

Data extraction

Those articles that pass the study selection are then thoroughly and critically read. Next, the researcher completes the information required using the “data extraction” form, as illustrated in Fig. 3 , in this scenario using Parsif.al tool.

Example of data extraction form using Parsif.al.

The information required (study characteristics and findings) from each included study must be acquired and documented through careful reading. Data extraction is valuable, especially if the data requires manipulation or assumptions and inferences. Thus, information can be synthesized from the extracted data for qualitative or quantitative analysis [16] . This documentation supports clarity, precise reporting, and the ability to scrutinize and replicate the examination.

Analysis and Report

The analysis phase examines the synthesized data and extracts meaningful information from the selected articles [10] . There are two main goals in this phase.

The first goal is to analyze the literature in terms of leading authors, journals, countries, and organizations. Furthermore, it helps identify correlations among topic s . Even when not mandatory, this activity can be constructive for researchers to position their work, find trends, and find collaboration opportunities. Next, data from the selected articles can be analyzed using bibliometric analysis (BA). BA summarizes large amounts of bibliometric data to present the state of intellectual structure and emerging trends in a topic or field of research [4] . Table 7 sets out some of the most common bibliometric analysis representations.

Techniques for bibliometric analysis and examples.

Several tools can perform this type of analysis, such as Excel and Google Sheets for statistical graphs or using programming languages such as Python that has available multiple  data visualization libraries (i.e. Matplotlib, Seaborn). Cluster maps based on bibliographic data(i.e keywords, authors) can be developed in VosViewer which makes it easy to identify clusters of related items [18] . In Fig. 4 , node size is representative of the number of papers related to the keyword, and lines represent the links among keyword terms.

[1] Keyword co-relationship analysis using clusterization in vos viewer.

This second and most important goal is to answer the formulated research questions, which should include a quantitative and qualitative analysis. The quantitative analysis can make use of data categorized, labelled, or coded in the extraction form (see Section 1.6). This data can be transformed into numerical values to perform statistical analysis. One of the most widely employed method is frequency analysis, which shows the recurrence of an event, and can also represent the percental distribution of the population (i.e., percentage by technology type, frequency of use of different frameworks, etc.). Q ualitative analysis includes the narration of the results, the discussion indicating the way forward in future research work, and inferring a conclusion.

Finally, the literature review report should state the protocol to ensure others researchers can replicate the process and understand how the analysis was performed. In the protocol, it is essential to present the inclusion and exclusion criteria, quality assessment, and rationality beyond these aspects.

The presentation and reporting of results will depend on the structure of the review given by the researchers conducting the SLR, there is no one answer. This structure should tie the studies together into key themes, characteristics, or subgroups [ 28 ].

SLR can be an extensive and demanding task, however the results are beneficial in providing a comprehensive overview of the available evidence on a given topic. For this reason, researchers should keep in mind that the entire process of the SLR is tailored to answer the research question(s). This article has detailed a practical guide with the essential steps to conducting an SLR in the context of computer science and software engineering while citing multiple helpful examples and tools. It is envisaged that this method will assist researchers, and particularly early-stage researchers, in following an algorithmic approach to fulfill this task. Finally, a quick checklist is presented in Appendix A as a companion of this article.

CRediT author statement

Angela Carrera-Rivera: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing-Original. William Ochoa-Agurto : Methodology, Writing-Original. Felix Larrinaga : Reviewing and Supervision Ganix Lasa: Reviewing and Supervision.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgments

Funding : This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant No. 814078.

Carrera-Rivera, A., Larrinaga, F., & Lasa, G. (2022). Context-awareness for the design of Smart-product service systems: Literature review. Computers in Industry, 142, 103730.

1 https://parsif.al/

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Research Guide for Faculty

• Information for Faculty by Adorée Hatton Makusztak Last Updated Aug 26, 2024 914 views this year

Systematic Review Process with a Librarian

The librarian plays an integral role in systematic reviews at Loma Linda University. 

What is a systematic review?

Cochrane Reviews provides the following definition for a systematic review: "A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question. Researchers conducting systematic reviews use explicit, systematic methods that are selected with a view aimed at minimizing bias, to produce more reliable findings to inform decision making."

A systematic review is a rigorous and comprehensive approach to reviewing and synthesizing existing research literature on a specific topic. It goes beyond a traditional literature review by using a systematic and transparent process to identify, select, appraise, and analyze relevant studies.

The purpose of a systematic review is to provide a reliable and unbiased summary of the available evidence on a particular research question or topic. By systematically searching for and critically evaluating all relevant studies, systematic reviews aim to minimize bias and provide a more objective assessment of the existing evidence.

Systematic reviews are essential in research for several reasons:

Evidence-based decision making

Summarizing complex bodies of evidence

Identifying research gaps and priorities

Resolving conflicting findings

Improving research efficiency

Systematic Review Service Staff:

To request a systematic review service, contact the jbi certified librarians below: .

 Research & Instruction Librarian

 liaison to the school of allied health professions,    and the school of public health.

 office  (909) 558-1000 ext. 47564  ·   e-mail   [email protected]

  Make an appointment with Adorée

 Liaison to the School of Pharmacy, the School of Dentistry, 

   and the school of nursing (undergraduate).

 office: (909) 558-1000 ext. 47561 e-mail:  [email protected]

 Shan Tamares

 library director.

 office:  (909) 558-1000 ext. 47501 

 e-mail:  [email protected]

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