The Systematic Review Process

Conducting a systematic review involves a structured process that ensures clarity, consistency, and rigor. Each stage, from defining the research question to reporting and sharing findings, builds on the last to produce a transparent and reproducible synthesis of evidence. Breaking the process into six clear steps can guide you through planning, searching, screening, analyzing, and presenting results. The following sections outline each step to support a successful review:

• Step One: Plan Your Review
• Step Two: Protocol Development
• Step Three: Find & Manage Evidence
• Step Four: Select & Appraise Studies
• Step Five: Data Extraction & Synthesis
• Step Six: Write Your Findings

To get a quick overview of the process before diving into the details, watch the video Review Ready: Navigating Systematic & Rapid Reviews for a process overview for both review types.