Writing a Systematic Literature Review: Your Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Turn complex literature reviews into manageable steps!
Writing a systematic literature review (SLR) isn’t just about summarizing articles, it's about following a clear, structured process to gather and synthesize the best available research on a specific question.
Unlike traditional reviews, an SLR is designed to be transparent, reproducible, and comprehensive. It involves carefully planning every step, from formulating a research question to extracting and analyzing data.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key steps:
Defining your research question
Creating a review protocol
Conducting a thorough literature search
Assessing study quality
Synthesizing and reporting your findings
By the end, you'll have a complete framework to confidently execute a methodologically sound and credible SLR. Let’s get into it.
Define the Research Question
Every strong systematic review starts with a well-defined question. This shapes the direction of your entire review, from what studies you search to how you interpret findings.
Use frameworks like PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) or SPIDER (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research Type) to give structure to your question.
Example (PICO):
How does mindfulness-based therapy (Intervention) compare to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (Comparison) in reducing anxiety (Outcome) among adults (Population)?
A focused question ensures your review is targeted, relevant, and methodologically sound.
Develop a Protocol
Think of the protocol as your SLR blueprint. It outlines exactly how you’ll conduct your review, reducing the risk of bias or inconsistency.
Your protocol should include:
Research question and objectives
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Databases and search strategies
Screening process
Data extraction and synthesis methods
Pro tip: Pre-register your protocol on platforms like PROSPERO to promote transparency and academic credibility.
Conduct a Comprehensive Literature Search
This step is all about coverage and precision.
Search multiple databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, to capture relevant studies. Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), MeSH terms, and filters to fine-tune your results.
Example search query:
(“physical activity” OR “exercise”) AND (“mental health” OR “depression”) AND (“adolescents” OR “teenagers”)
Document every step, databases used, date ranges, and search strings, so your review can be replicated by others.
Select Studies Based on Eligibility Criteria
To stay objective, use predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Screen in two phases:
Title and abstract screening
Full-text review
Use a PRISMA flow diagram to visually track the number of studies included and excluded at each stage.
Example criteria:
Inclusion: Peer-reviewed articles from 2013–2023, English language, randomized controlled trials
Exclusion: Editorials, opinion pieces, non-human studies
This step ensures your final pool of studies is both relevant and high quality.
Assess the Quality of Included Studies
Not all studies are created equal, evaluating quality helps filter strong evidence from weak findings.
Use tools like:
Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (for randomized controlled trials)
Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (for observational studies)
CASP Checklists (for qualitative and quantitative studies)
Each tool checks for bias in design, sampling, analysis, and reporting. Grade studies based on their risk level (low, moderate, high) and interpret weaker studies with caution.
Example quality checklist fields:
Study type
Randomization method
Blinding
Attrition rate
Outcome measurement clarity
Extract Relevant Data
This step is about systematically capturing essential study details.
Use a structured data extraction form or spreadsheet that includes:
Study title and year
Authors and affiliations
Sample size and demographics
Intervention or exposure details
Measured outcomes
Key findings or effect sizes
Tools like Covidence or RevMan can make extraction faster and more organized.
Analyze and Synthesize Findings
Once the data is in, it’s time to make sense of it all.
You can:
Use narrative synthesis for qualitative reviews—identify patterns and themes across studies
Conduct a meta-analysis for quantitative reviews—statistically combine results
Focus on:
Comparing outcomes
Highlighting contradictions
Weighing results by study quality
Example (narrative synthesis):
Several studies found that mindfulness interventions reduced anxiety among adolescents, though effect size varied based on intervention length and delivery format.
Report the Review
Good research isn’t just about doing the work, it’s about clearly presenting it.
Follow the PRISMA reporting guidelines, which help you include all critical elements of a systematic review.
Structure your paper with:
Introduction – Define the research gap
Methods – Detail your search strategy, criteria, and tools
Results – Present study findings and PRISMA flow diagram
Discussion – Interpret results, limitations, and implications
Conclusion – Summarize takeaways
Don’t forget to include:
A search strategy appendix
A clear PRISMA diagram showing how many studies were included/excluded
Update the Review as Necessary
Systematic reviews need to stay current as new research emerges. Set clear timelines for updates, especially in fast-changing fields.
Use tools like database alerts or AI monitoring systems to track new studies automatically. This helps you spot relevant research without starting from scratch.
For example, a review from 2020 might be scheduled for review in 2022 to include any major new findings.
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Writing a systematic literature review takes structure, consistency, and attention to detail, from defining your question to synthesizing the final results.
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