☰ ATSU Navigation
A literature review is a generic term used to describe pulling together information to answer a research question, then summarizing the findings. There is more than one type of a literature review. Depending on available time, resources, and support there may be a particular type of review to conduct.
Review types differ by
| Review Type | Definition | Searching | Appraisal | Synthesis | Analysis |
| Literature or Narrative Review | Generic term: published materials that provide examination of recent or current literature. Can cover wide range of subjects at various levels of completeness and comprehensiveness. May include research findings |
May or may not include comprehensive searching | May or may not include quality assessment | Typically narrative | Analysis may be chronological, conceptual, thematic, etc. |
| Systematic Review | Seeks to systematically search for, appraise, and synthesize research evidence, often adhering to guidelines on the conduct of a review | Aims for exhaustive, comprehensive searching |
Quality assessment may determine inclusion/exclusion |
Typically narrative with tabular accompaniment |
What is known; recommendations for practice. What remains unknown; uncertainty around findings, recommendations for future research |
| Mapping Review | Review that examines a typically broad topic area with a view to identifying evidence gaps to be addressed by future primary research or systematic review(s), as yet unspecified | Completeness of searching determined by time/scope constraints |
No formal quality assessment |
May be graphical and tabular |
Characterizes quantity and quality of literature, perhaps by study design and other key features. May identify need for primary or secondary research |
| Scoping Review | Review that seeks to explore and define conceptual and logistic boundaries around a particular topic with a view to inform a future predetermined systematic review or primary 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 |
| Umbrella Review | Review that brings together multiple pre-existing reviews, all conducted using a shared methodology, facilitating comparison and analysis | Identification of component reviews, but no search for primary studies |
Quality assessment of studies within component reviews and/or of reviews themselves |
Graphical and tabular with narrative commentary |
What is known; recommendations for practice. What remains unknown; recommendations for future research |
| Meta-analysis | Technique that statistically combines the results of quantitative studies to provide a more precise effect of the results | Aims for exhaustive, comprehensive searching. May use funnel plot to assess completeness |
Quality assessment may determine inclusion/ exclusion and/or sensitivity analyses |
Graphical and tabular with narrative commentary |
Numerical analysis of measures of effect assuming absence of heterogeneity |
Sutton, A., Clowes, M., Preston, L., & Booth, A. (2019). Meeting the review family: exploring review types and associated information retrieval requirements. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 36(3), 202–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12276
Grant, M. J. and Booth, A. (2009), A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 26: 91–108. doi:10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x
Whichever review type you decide to conduct, the A.T. Still Memorial Librarians are happy to assist you throughout the process.
Librarians can assist you with: