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Scoping Review
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Systematic Review
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Evidence Synthesis
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Meta-Analysis
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Realist Review
Rapid Review
Scoping Reviews
These are often the best starting point for a researcher to find out what studies have been done, with what populations and in what settings or contexts.
Scoping reviews are used to explore the breadth of literature on a broad topic, identify research gaps, and map the evidence landscape. Scoping reviews should have a protocol and follow a rigorous & transparent process, like a systematic review (SR). Because there is no critical appraisal of studies included, they should not be used to create recommendations for policy, practice or treatment.
Purpose:
- To Map the Literature: The primary aim is to map the existing literature on a broad topic or research question to identify key concepts, theories, evidence gaps, and the types of evidence available. The search would usually identify and include ongoing research and research in progress.
To Clarify Scope: To clarify the scope of research and provide an overview of the breadth and depth of evidence, especially for emerging or complex topics.
- To Inform Future Research: To help identify areas where more research is needed and to inform the development of more focused reviews or research projects.
Characteristics:
- Broad Scope: Addresses a broad research question or topic without narrowing the focus to a specific intervention or outcome.
- Systematic Approach: Uses systematic methods to search for and identify relevant literature, but does not necessarily include a quality assessment of included studies.
- No Quality Appraisal: Typically, does not involve critical appraisal of individual studies; instead, it provides an overview of the evidence landscape.
- Diverse Evidence Types: Includes a wide range of evidence types, including both qualitative and quantitative studies, as well as grey literature and policy documents.
- Iterative Process: May involve iterative refinement of the research question and scope as new insights are gained during the review process.
- Reporting: Provides a descriptive summary of the literature, often including thematic mapping, charts, or tables to illustrate findings.
Timescale:
- 3 to 6 months: Scoping reviews generally take between 3 and 6 months to complete, though this can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the amount of literature.