Before you undertake a Systematic Review, it is important to assess whether a Systematic Review is both:
Considering undertaking a review but not sure which review type might work best for your project? Below are some review types to consider.
| Objective | Typical Timeline |
Typical Scope |
Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systematic Reviews | Seeks to systematically search for, appraise and synthesis research evidence, often adhering to guidelines on the conduct of a review. | 12-18 months | More than 3 databases | Requires a review team of usually two or more additional people. |
| Scoping Reviews | Preliminary assessment of potential size and scope of available research literature. Aims to identify nature and extent of research. | 6-12 months | At least 2 databases | Requires a team of at least one additional person, plus a third to resolve disagreements. |
| Rapid Reviews | Assessment of what is already known about a policy or practice issue, by using systematic review methods to search and critically appraise existing research. | 1-2 months | 3 or more databases | Requires a team of at least one additional person to screen, plus a third to resolve disagreements |
| Narrative Reviews | Examines examination of recent or current literature. Can cover wide range of subjects at various levels of completeness and comprehensiveness. May include research findings. | 2-12 months | 3 or more databases | Can be completed as an individual. |
| Umbrella Reviews | Seek to synthesize evidence from multiple reviews into one accessible and usable document. Often focus on a broad condition or problem for which there are competing interventions and highlights reviews that address these. | up to 12 months | 3 or more databases | Requires a team of at least one additional person, plus a third to resolve disagreements. |
Based on: