While there are many benefits to conducting a systematic review, there are times when it is not the most appropriate choice for a review question or team. Keep in mind TREAD before choosing a review type, as all of these criteria need to align to match the type of review conducted:
T - Time R - Resource E - Expertise A - Audience D - Data
| Description | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search | Appraisal | Synthesis | Analysis | ||||||
| Seeks to systematically search for, appraise and synthesis research evidence, often adhering to guidelines on the conduct of a review |
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| Description | Search | Appraisal | Synthesis | Analysis | |
| Preliminary assessment of potential size and scope of available research literature. Aims to identify nature and extent of research evidence (usually including ongoing research) | Completeness of searching determined by time/scope constraints. May include research in progress | No formal quality assessment | Typically tabular with some narrative commentary | Characterizes quantity and quality of literature, perhaps by study design and other key features. Attempts to specify a viable review |
| Description | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search | Appraisal | Synthesis | Analysis | ||
| Aims to demonstrate writer has extensively researched literature and critically evaluated its quality. Goes beyond mere description to include degree of analysis and conceptual innovation. Typically results in hypothesis or model | Seeks to identify most significant items in the field | No formal quality assessment. Attempts to evaluate according to contribution | Typically narrative, perhaps conceptual or chronological | Significant component: seeks to identify conceptual contribution to embody existing or derive new theory | |
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