Systematic Review Process: Steps and Procedures in Research Synthesis

Systematic Review Process:

Initial Steps:

• Establish clear objectives and inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Main Steps:

1. Literature Search:

   • Conduct a comprehensive search across multiple databases.
   • Include gray literature, unpublished studies, and diverse sources.

2. Critical Appraisal and Synthesis:

   • Critically appraise and synthesize evidence using explicit methodologies.

3. Data Extraction and Synthesis:

   • Extract relevant data, assess quality, and synthesize findings.

Result Reporting:

• Typically includes a summary statistic derived from combined study results.

Objective Setting:

• Clear articulation of research objectives and hypotheses.

Literature Search:

• Comprehensive search strategy across multiple databases.

Data Extraction and Synthesis:

• Extraction of relevant data, quality assessment, and findings synthesis.

Reporting Findings:

• Presentation of synthesized results, addressing study limitations and implications for practice or future research.

This structured flow outlines the sequential steps involved in conducting a systematic review, from initial objectives and literature search to data extraction, synthesis, and reporting of findings.