Systematic review tools and support

A systematic review is a comprehensive summary of published research on a specific topic, conducted using a structured, methodical approach.

It aims to identify, through a systematic literature review, evaluate, and synthesise all relevant studies on a particular research question, ensuring that the conclusions are reliable and unbiased. Sometimes, systematic reviews include a meta-analysis of the studies’ findings.

Our resources

While these resources focus on systematic reviews, they cover transferable skills such as search strategy development and database searching. You will find them useful for conducting other review types, such as scoping, narrative, integrative and rapid reviews.

Cochrane reviews

If you are conducting a Cochrane review, the guide and one-on-one support can help you grasp the fundamentals of systematic reviews and refine literature search strategies. However, we recommend you consult Cochrane resources.

The Systematic Review Guide is a collection of interactive Canvas modules designed for postgraduate students, doctoral candidates, and staff starting their review. The guide is also applicable to other review types, such as scoping, narrative, integrative and rapid reviews.

The guide covers:

• Details on the systematic review process, as well as other types of reviews
• Turning research questions into frameworks and search strategies
• Database searching guidance
• An overview of study screening, appraisal, data extraction and synthesis

While systematic reviews are frequently found in medical and health disciplines, they are becoming more common in other areas of research, and the guide provides advice for other disciplines.

This free, two-hour interactive workshop run by Library specialists is ideal for staff and students involved in literature synthesis, from beginners to those seeking to enhance their search skills. It is offered quarterly in both online and in-person formats.

Join us to explore how to design and run systematic literature searches that align with review methodology standards. While this is targeted at systematic reviews, the shared strategies are applicable to other review types too.

Activities will be based on your own research question, so bring your research topic and come away with the beginnings of your systematic search strategy.

This workshop will help you:

• Develop effective systematic search strategies
• Identify and use relevant databases and sources
• Manage and refine your search results efficiently

This free, online workshop from Te Kahu Tauira, Student and Scholarly Services, will teach you how to build an effective search strategy using Medline (Ovid) – an essential database for medical and health-based research, especially for systematic and scoping reviews.

This workshop is open to all. It is particularly relevant to postgraduate students, PhD candidates, and staff who plan to conduct systematic or scoping reviews.

Bring your research topic along to use in the practical exercises and come away with the beginnings of your very own Medline search strategy.

This workshop will help you:

• Develop effective Medline search strategies
• Find more relevant articles efficiently
• Stay up to date with new publications in your field
• Understand how to combine MESH (medical subject headings) and keywords in your searches
• Refine or troubleshoot your search results

Can’t make any of the sessions listed? Check out the recording in the Systematic Review Guide.

Research services advisers from Te Kahu Tauira, Student and Scholarly Services, with expertise in systematic reviews, can provide you with individualised support. Library support is available for two early stages of the review process: developing a protocol and developing a search strategy.

Specific advice is available for:

• Guidance on the review process and methodology
• Feedback on translating research questions into search strategies
• Advice on search strategies, database selection and protocols
• Guidance on expert search techniques that may improve your strategy
• Advice on translating your search to other databases

Support for other areas of the process is signposted in the Systematic Review Guide where relevant.

What to expect from this service:

• To help us quickly understand your needs, please describe your research topic and question, what you have already done and where you need help.
• Individualised support will primarily be provided via email, with consultations offered if needed.

Consultations are structured as a 45-minute online or in-person session with a research services adviser. One additional session may be offered if required. You are welcome to bring your supervisor or members of your review team to your session.

Preparing for a consult

Prior to requesting a consult, first:

1. Work through the Systematic Review Guide in Canvas
2. Complete the systematic-type review consultation form and attach it to your request

If you have already worked through the guide or have equivalent experience, you will still need to complete step 2.

Our full service model is outlined in our: