Doing the systematic literature review

Introduction

Key terms: analysis of literature, literature search, PRISMA, use of AI, write-up templates, ATLAS.ti, Elicit, ASreview, introductory course, relevant for students in any PhD phase.

ECTS: 2
Number of sessions: 2
Hours per session: 3 

Before conducting a study, it is essential to identify the existing research on your topic and assess the strengths and limitations of the current literature. This is done by conducting a literature review. 

There are several types of literature reviews. This course offers guidance for one of the more challenging and comprehensive approaches: the systematic literature review.  

Participants will be trained in the full literature review process, including the selection of literature, the application of reading strategies, the assessment of literature, and the presentation of findings.  

We will also discuss how AI tools may be used to facilitate and expedite the systematic review process.  

Entry level and relevance

This is an introductory course; prior experience or knowledge is not required for attendance.

The course is designed for students who are about to start or in the early stages of their literature review and looking for structured guidance. The course program and learning goals give you an idea of what the course is more specifically about.

If you’ve already started with your literature review and made substantial progress, and in doing so have become confident with the various aspects of the review process, this course will not have much value for you. The course is relevant for students in any PhD phase, but we recommend attending it as early as possible in your PhD trajectory and before you start doing a comprehensive literature review for your project.

Students from all research disciplines, and from both quantitative and qualitative research fields can benefit from the course.

Relations with other courses

This course covers how to search for literature in established scientific databases and introduces the use of the bibliometric software VOSviewer. To prepare for or follow up on this course, you may consider attending two related EGSH courses that explore these topics in greater depth: Searching and managing your literature and Visual exploration of scientific literature with VOSviewer.

Sessions and preparations

Session 1: Searching, collecting and screening the relevant literature 
The first session focuses on the first phases of the systematic literature review process, which consist of determining the scope of a literature review, and the process of searching, collecting and screening the relevant literature. Special attention will be paid to how these analytic steps can be supported and expedited by bibliometric and AI software. The session begins, however, with an illustration of the different literature review approaches that can be taken. 

Session 2: Investigating the literature and doing the write-up 
The second session is about the next phases of the systematic review process, which include the assessment of individual publications, the synthesis of findings, the critical appraisal of the selected literature, and the write-up. We will also discuss how AI tools can be used for these activities (particularly for the write-up), and we will have a more general reflection on responsible use of AI. 

Preparations:
Participants will be asked to make some assignments before the session starts. Making these assignments will expectedly take 4 to 5 hours.