UCF Research Guides: Systematic Reviews for Social Sciences: Review Planning

Review Planning

An initial step in planning a literature review project is deciding on the type of review you will use. The resources below provide overviews of different review types you might use and the related considerations.

A Typology of Reviews: An Analysis of 14 Review Types and Associated Methodologies -- Article by Grant & Booth, 2009
"The expansion of evidence-based practice across sectors has lead to an increasing variety of review types. However, the diversity of terminology used means that the full potential of these review types may be lost amongst a confusion of indistinct and misapplied terms. The objective of this study is to provide descriptive insight into the most common types of reviews, with illustrative examples from health and health information domains."
Review Methodology Decision Tree from Cornell University Library -- Quick Comparison Guide
"Evidence synthesis" refers to any method of identifying, selecting, and combining results from multiple studies. A systematic review is a type of evidence synthesis."

Types of Reviews

'Literature review' is a generic term that is often used to describe a range of different review types. Listed below are some common review types with brief descriptions for a quick comparison of characteristics.

Narrative Review
Identifies and synthesizes a range of sources and may incorporate a 'systematized approach.'
Meta-Analysis
Uses statistical methods to evaluate relevant research studies and may be part of a systematic review.
Rapid Review
Applies systematic review methods but sets a time limit on locating and appraising sources for a shorten timeframe.
Scoping Review
Explores research questions to map key concepts, evidence, and gaps in the literature and may take longer to complete than a systematic review,
Systematic Review
Aims to be comprehensive, adheres to transparent procedures, and provides evidence synthesis that can be used in intervention decisions and policy making.
Systematized Review
Incorporates some systematic review procedures that can be included as part of a narrative (traditional) review.
Umbrella Review
Compiles evidence from multiple reviews based on a broad problem for which there are competing interventions.