Getting Started

🧭 Getting Started – Systematic Reviews

What's in this guide

This guide provides an overview of the systematic review process, definitions, and best practices related to database selection, developing and documenting the search strategy (i.e., study methodology), and managing publication citation data. Resources and strategies for finding existing systematic reviews are also included.

Consult with a systematic review expert

Complete our intake form to request a consultation with a librarian expert on systematic review methodology, protocols, and search queries for systematic reviews.

Related information

Also see our guide on Systematic Reviews-Tools covering tools to help you perform and manage health sciences systematic reviews. Tools include Covidence and JBI's Sumari.

Video: What is a Systematic Review?

For an overview of what's involved in conducting a systematic review, including best practices, view this six-minute video by Carrie Price:

Systematic Reviews: A Comprehensive Overview Video Series
SR-Accelerator
SR-Accelerator provides a suite of modules which assist in the systematic review process.
ESMIG's Evidence Synthesis Resources Guide
This is an extensive guide on evidence synthesis, including systematic reviews.

The ACRL Evidence Synthesis Methods - Interest Group (ESM-IG) was created to promote and develop competencies related to supporting and participating in evidence synthesis, which includes systematic reviews, scoping reviews, meta-analysis and other types.
A Practical Guide: Screening for Systematic Reviews
A booklet from Covidence describing the screening process for Systematic Reviews
A Practical Guide: Protocol Guide for Systematic Reviews
A booklet from Covidence.
A Practical Guide to Data Extraction for Intervention Systematic Reviews
A booklet from Covidence