Chapter 4 Getting started: reviewing the literature

Question 1

Systematic review

Answer 1

‘A replicable, scientific and transparent process, in other words a detailed technology, that aims to minimize bias through exhaustive literature searches of published and unpublished studies and by providing an audit trail of the reviewer’s decisions, procedures and conclusions’.

Question 2

Meta-analysis

Answer 2

Involves summarizing the results of a large number of quantitative studies and conducting various analytical tests to show whether or not a particular variable has an effect.

Question 3

Meta-ethnography

Answer 3

Method that is used to achieve interpretative synthesis of qualitative research and other secondary sources, thus providing a counterpart to meta-analysis in quantitative research.

Question 4

Narrative review

Answer 4

More traditional approach that has advantages of flexibility that can make it more appropriate for inductive research and qualitative research designs.Narrative reviews therefore tend to be less focused and more wide-ranging in scope than systematic reviews. They are also less explicit about the criteria for exclusion or inclusion of studies.