LibGuides: Scoping Reviews: Home

What Is a Scoping Review?

"Scoping reviews are a type of evidence synthesis that aims to systematically identify and map the breadth of evidence available on a particular topic, field, concept, or issue, often irrespective of source (ie, primary research, reviews, non-empirical evidence) within or across particular contexts. Scoping reviews can clarify key concepts/definitions in the literature and identify key characteristics or factors related to a concept, including those related to methodological research."

Common Reasons for Conducting a Scoping Review:

To identify the types of available evidence in a given field.
To identify and analyze knowledge gaps.
To clarify key concepts/definitions in the literature.
To examine how research is conducted on a certain topic
To identify key characteristics or factors related to a concept.
As a precursor to a systematic review.

Source: What are scoping reviews? Providing a formal definition of scoping reviews as a type of evidence synthesis

Request Form for Research Assistance and Review Consultation This is a required planning step performed a priori to a scoping review or systematic review. This form follows a modified version of the PRISMA 2020 statement. This protocol will be used solely for library purposes to help with consultation services or in construction of the literature search. All information shared is strictly held confidential. We will respond to your request within 2-3 business days. Please be aware that due to the volume of requests, we may not be able to complete your search immediately. For questions about this form, please contact the library at libmo@atsu.edu or libaz@atsu.edu.

If you are unsure which type of review you want to conduct, then head over to our Research Hub guide for more information.

Levels of Services

The A.T. Still Memorial Library provides three levels of services for systematic and scoping reviews.

Consultant	Education with Co-Author	Co-Author
Assist to determine which type of Evidence Synthesis review best fits your question and research needs Provide education on the systematic or scoping (or other types) review mehtodology Assist with refining the research topic Recommend databases and gray literature sources Provide training on citation management and review sofware like Covidence Recommend protocol registration platforms Suggest edits for your search strategy Provide education on developing comprehensive search strategies Provide education on translating your search strategy between different databases	Assist to determine which type of Evidence Synthesis review best fits your question and research needs Provide education on the systematic or scoping (or other types) review mehtodology Assist with refining the research topic Recommend databases and gray literature sources Provide training on citation management and review sofware like Covidence Recommend protocol registration platforms Share tools for database translation and split up the work of translating, including grey literature Provide education and assist with developing comprehensive search strategies Help to write the search strategy section of the protocol and manuscript Advice on writing article according to PRISMA guidelines Provide editiorial feedback on the manuscript	Assist to determine which type of Evidence Synthesis review best fits your question and research needs Provide education on the systematic or scoping (or other types) review mehtodology Assist with refinement of research question Select databases and gray literature sources Create the search strategy Translate search strategy into syntax of all databases Perform searching and export them in citation management/systematic review software Provide training on citation management and review sofware like Covidence Write the search strategy section of the protocol < Help to write the search strategy section of the protocol and manuscript Advice on writing article according to PRISMA guidelines Provide editiorial feedback on the manuscript

Don't forget that we also provide scholarly communication services, including but not limited to helping you identify and evaluate journals for publication, understanding copyright, and publishing your work open access.

If you are interested in any of the above services, please complete our research assistance and review consultation form, and one of the liaison librarians will reach out to you.