Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences
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The Handbook of Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis, 3rd Edition
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Making Literature Reviews Work: a Multidisciplinary Guide to Systematic Approaches
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An Introduction to Systematic Reviews
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"Evidence synthesis is the process of identifying, evaluating, and integrating findings from multiple studies to answer a research question....[combining] data and insights from a body of research." (Covidence, 2025. Understanding Review Types in Research, 5.)
There are many types of evidence synthesis reviews and choosing the right type for your purpose is important, (See "Types of Reviews" box on this page.) NOTE: SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS ARE OFTEN NOT THE BEST TYPE OF REVIEW FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEMPT AS THE RIGOR REQUIRED DOES NOT FIT STUDENT CONTEXTS.
Learn about the types of reviews in Covidence's ebook: Understanding Review Types in Research. This is an EXCELLENT resource to consult before you begin to be sure you are conducting the type of review that is most appropriate for your research question.
GLOSSARY
The form of a review generally depends on its purpose and area of interest and might focus on effectiveness of interventions, key conceptual debates, or something else. Reviews generally fall along a continuum from aggregative to interpretive.
Other information on conducting other types of reviews:
Below is an overview of systematic reviews from Viktor, L. (2008). Systematic Reviewing.Social Research Update, 54. University of Surrey. For more information on systematic reviews, see the "Useful Books" box at the bottom of this page.
What is a systematic review?
"Systematic reviews are a method of identifying and synthesising all the available research evidence of sufficient quality concerning a specific subject. The aim is to review and synthesise evidence in a transparent and rigorous way to enhance the validity and reliability of the findings" and reduce bias.
Systematic reviews came to prominence in clinical medicine focused on interventions and outcomes and prioritized studies that were randomized controlled trials. They are usually conducted in a staged process and are focused on answering a particular research question or set of questions.
How is it different from a traditional literature review?
In a systematic review, the focus on the comprehensiveness of the search, the quality of the evidence, and the fact that it is conducted very systematically using transparent and rigorous processes contributes to reducing bias and to the reliability and validity of its findings as compared to a traditional literature review. Systematic reviews require a well formulated specific research question and are "less a discussion of the literature, and more a scientific tool...to summarize, appraise, and communicate the results and implications of otherwise unmanageable quantities of research." (Petticrew & Roberts, 2006, p. 10).
What is a systematic review in the social sciences?
In the social sciences, systematic reviews generally come out of the social policy area. Traditionally, they followed the methodology and approach taken in clinical medicine, using a highly prescribed staged methodology, statistical meta-analysis, etc. This approach has been adapted and extended in the social sciences allowing for more flexibility, less focus on comprehensiveness, the inclusion of a wider range of research and other methods of analysis (e.g. narrative), and using the method as a means to build theory.
The resources below include detailed guidelines and procedures for conducting systematic reviews. Some first steps to consider include:
1) Reviews should start with a meaningful and useful question, do you have a defined question? What is the best review type to approach this question?
2) Have you searched for other systematic reviews that have already been done on this question/topic?
3) Develop your detailed protocol.
4) Develop an effective search strategy.
These organizations are focused on systematic reviews and provide resources to support conducting them.
Systematic reviews are often registered before undertaken. This article details why and where to do this (e.g. in addition to registries at Cochrane and Campbell, which are restricted to systematic reviews conducted within their organizations, other registries are more open, such as PROSPERO, Research Registry, INPLASY, OSF Registries, and protocols.io). See this article for more info:
Learn how to conduct a systematic review through the library's subscription to Cochrane Interactive Learning and its modules. Although this tool is focused on Cochrane and healthcare reviews, it can be useful to anyone.
An online, self-paced course designed to teach the fundamentals of conducting systematic reviews of healthcare interventions. Developed by Cochrane, a global leader in evidence-based health research, this resource offers interactive modules that cover the entire review process, from formulating a research question to interpreting and reporting results. Users need to register for an account using a UNM or HSC email account or from within UNM IP ranges.
UNM has a subscription to COVIDENCE software. Visit the Library's research guide on using Covidence software for conducting systematic reviews -- learn why and how to use it.
Learn about research methods including systematic reviews....