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Types of Reviews

Basic information and resources on the different types of literature reviews in research.

Basic Information about Scoping Reviews

Scoping Reviews can take 6-12 months and input from at least 3 team members is needed.

Scoping Reviews are useful for:

  • examining emerging evidence when it is still unclear what other, more specific questions can be posed and valuably addressed by a more precise systematic review
  • report on the types of evidence that address and inform practice in the field
  • report on the way the research has been conducted
  • an overview or map of the evidence
    • (in broad topic areas)

 Purposes for conducting a Scoping Review:

  • To identify the types of available evidence in a given field
  • To clarify key concepts/definitions in the literature
  • To examine how research is conducted on a certain topic or field
  • To identify key characteristics or factors related to a concept
  • As a precursor to a systematic review
  • To identify and analyze knowledge gaps

 

Other names for Scoping Reviews: Scoping Study, Systematic Scoping Review, Scoping Report, Scope of the Evidence, Rapid Scoping Review, Structured Literature Review, Scoping Project, Scoping Meta Review

Review Steps

Scoping Review Steps

Note: this graphic only represents a general overview of the scoping review process.

For a conducting guideline/methodology, please consult the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews or the JBI Manual of Evidence Synthesis linked below.

Tools and References

Tools


Conducting Guidance

Reporting Guidance

Protocol Registration

Additional Tools

References

Related Library Guides