A systematic review (SR) attempts to collate all empirical evidence that fits pre-specified eligibility criteria in order to answer a specific research question. It uses explicit, systematic methods that are selected with a view to minimizing bias, thus providing more reliable findings from which conclusions can be drawn and decisions made. (The Cochrane Handbook)
Key characteristics of a systematic review are:
- a clearly defined topic, with pre-defined eligibility criteria for studies
- a systematic and reproducible search strategy
- a critical appraisal of included studies
- data extraction and processing
- analysis and interpretation of results
For more information see Guides for Conducting Systematic Reviews on the SR Process tab.