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Systematic Reviews

Review Types

Other Types of Reviews

Narrative Review: Broad overview, less structured, more subjective.
Scoping Review: Maps key concepts and gaps in research.
Rapid Review: Streamlined version of a systematic review for timely evidence.
Umbrella Review: Review of existing reviews.
Integrative Review: Includes diverse methodologies (qualitative + quantitative).
Meta-analysis: Statistical synthesis of quantitative data from multiple studies.

Requirements of Each Review type:

Characteristic	Narrative Review	Scoping Review	Systematic Review	Meta-Analysis	Rapid Review
Definition	Broad summary of literature without systematic methods	Maps key concepts and gaps in research	Structured synthesis of evidence to answer a specific question	Statistical synthesis of quantitative results from multiple studies	Streamlined review for timely decision-making
Research Question	General or exploratory	Broad and exploratory	Focused and specific	Focused and specific	Focused
Search Strategy	Limited or selective	Comprehensive and transparent	Comprehensive and reproducible	Same as systematic review	Simplified and time-limited
Methods Paragraph	Optional	Required	Required	Required	Required
# of Databases	1–3	3–5+	3–5+	3–5+	2–3
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria	Not always specified	Defined but flexible	Strictly defined	Strictly defined	Defined but may be limited
Study Types Included	Any	Any	Quantitative, qualitative, or mixed	Quantitative	Quantitative or qualitative
Data Extraction	Optional	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Synthesis Type	Qualitative	Qualitative	Qualitative or Quantitative	Quantitative	Qualitative or Quantitative
# of Reviewers	1–2	2+	2+	2+	2+
Typical Time Frame	Weeks to 2 months	3–6 months	6–18 months	6–18 months	1–3 months

Choosing the Right Review Type

What is the purpose of your review? (e.g., summarize evidence, identify gaps, assess effectiveness)
How much time and resources are available?
Is the research question broad or narrow? Use decision tools like:

JBI Review Type Decision Tree

Citation (APA style):
Joanna Briggs Institute. (2024). The decision tree: A guide to selecting the appropriate review type. JBI.https://jbi.global/sites/default/files/2024-04/1BL_The%20Decision%20Tree.pdf [jbi.global]

Cornell Review Type Comparison Table

Citation (APA style):
Cornell University Library. (n.d.). Comparison of research review types. Cornell University. https://guides.library.cornell.edu/ld.php?content_id=52561085

Last Updated: Oct 23, 2025 11:56 AM
URL: https://libguides.wakehealth.edu/SystematicReviews
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Subjects: Publishing, Research

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