Before you commit yourself to doing a systematic review, there are a number of things to look into before you get started.
If there is a systematic review already published or underway on your topic you may need to reconsider your question.
To check, search in multi-disciplinary databases. We suggest:
To check if there is a systematic review that is in progress, check study registries.
Searching for existing reviews or protocols does not require a comprehensive search strategy. Use keywords in your search which represent your main concepts in your topic.
e.g. "green tea" AND cancer AND "systematic review"
While guides like this one can be useful resources that can support the conduct of a systematic review - it's important to refer to more detailed instruction to ensure you don't miss any important steps.
Below is a detailed list of commonly accepted guides. Pick one to use in consultation with your supervisor. You may choose a particular one depending on the nature of your question, or your discipline area.
Quantitative (intervention or effectiveness) questions
Qualitative
Mixed-methods (Qualitative and Quantitative)
Contact Us