OGorman_2013_literature.pdf (681.2 kB)
What are the differences between a literature search, a literature review, a systematic review and a meta-analysis? And why is a systematic review considered to be so good?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-02-23, 11:35 authored by CLODAGH O'GORMANCLODAGH O'GORMAN, Alan P. Macken, Walter Cullen, Jean Saunders, COLUM DUNNECOLUM DUNNE, M.F. HigginsIt takes time to recognise the differences between a literature
search (LS), a literature review (LR), a systematic review (SR) and
a meta-analysis (MA), especially as these terms are often used
interchangeably by many authors. For example, a colleague said
recently that she planned to do SR as part of her background for
her post-graduate research thesis. She planned to have it
completed within five days. After talking to her, it was clear that
she did not understand the concept (or the workload!) involved in
a SR. On the other hand, we all do so-called “quick and dirty” LSs
every day! Those are the kind of search where you have a
question, you open up your favourite search engine (PubMed,
EMBASE, etc.), plug in a few key words and press “search”.
Usually, with this type of search, you only put more effort into the
search strategy if the “quick and dirty” approach does not yield
enough (or any) relevant articles or if you are doing the LR for
your thesis, or research project.
History
Publication
Irish Medical Journal;supplement, 106(2), pp. 8-10Publisher
Irish Medical OrganizationNote
peer-reviewedLanguage
EnglishAlso affiliated with
- 4i - Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation & Immunity
Department or School
- School of Medicine
Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedLicence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC