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Systematic Reviews

This guide provides a step-by-step breakdown of how to conduct a systematic review and how librarians can assist in the process.

What is a Systematic Review Protocol?

What is a systematic review protocol?

It provides a map of the review for every stage of the process
Documenting the plan or protocol prior to completing the review reduces the bias and improves the validity
A registered protocol establishes provenance of the research project for the specific question

Why should a team register a protocol:

A protocol is considered best practice by the Cochrane Handbook and the PRISMA Guidelines for Systematic Reviews
Reduces bias by establishing your criteria a priori
Much of the information within the protocol will assist with the article format and writing

Source: Fundamentals of Systematic Review Protocols

PRISMA-P Explanation and Elaboration Document

How to Write a Systematic Review Protocol

Writing a review protocol - good practice and common errors
The purpose of this Cochrane Learning Live webinar was to provide up to date guidance for review authors wishing to learn more about developing their own protocol. These videos outline the most common errors made in each section of Cochrane Review Protocols and how these errors can be avoided or addressed.

Systematic Review Protocol Resources & Registration

Clinical Reviews

Prospero - Help with Registration

Prospero Protocol Template

Open Science Framework
Keep all your files, data, and protocols in one centralized location. No more trawling emails to find files or scrambling to recover from lost data.
How to Create a Preregistration in OSF
This page breaks down step-by-step how to register your protocol in OSF.

Non-Clinical Reviews

PRISMA Protocols
PRISMA-P was published in 2015 aiming to facilitate the development and reporting of systematic review protocols.
Where to prospectively register a systematic review