A systematic review dissertation is a robust and rigorous synthesis of existing research on a specific topic. It goes beyond a simple literature review by employing a pre-defined, systematic methodology to identify, evaluate, and synthesize all relevant studies addressing a particular research question. Undertaking such a dissertation can be challenging, but with careful planning, execution, and adherence to established guidelines, it can be a rewarding academic endeavor.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to writing a successful systematic review dissertation.
Understanding the Systematic Review Dissertation
Before embarking on this journey, it’s crucial to understand what a systematic review dissertation entails. It’s not just a summary of existing literature. It’s a scientific investigation in itself, aiming to:
- Minimize bias: Through rigorous and transparent methods at every stage of the process.
- Provide a comprehensive overview: Of the existing evidence on a research question.
- Identify research gaps: Highlighting areas where further investigation is needed.
- Inform policy and practice: By providing evidence-based recommendations.
- Contribute to theory development: By synthesizing and integrating findings from multiple studies.
Therefore, a systematic review dissertation requires more than just proficient dissertation writing skills; it necessitates a strong understanding of research methodology, critical appraisal techniques, and statistical methods (particularly for meta-analysis, if applicable).
Steps to Crafting a Robust Systematic Review Dissertation
Defining Your Research Question and Scope
The foundation of any successful dissertation, including a systematic review dissertation, is a well-defined research question. The question should be:
- Specific: Clearly articulate the population, intervention (or exposure), comparison, and outcome (PICO).
- Answerable: Feasible to address using existing research.
- Relevant: Significant and contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
- Feasible: Manageable within the time and resource constraints of a dissertation.
Consider using the PICO framework to structure your research question:
- Population: Who are the individuals or groups of interest?
- Intervention: What is the intervention or exposure being studied?
- Comparison: What is the alternative intervention or exposure being compared?
- Outcome: What are the outcomes of interest?
For example: “In adult patients with depression (P), does cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (I) compared to medication (C) improve their mood scores (O)?”
Once your question is defined, clearly delineate the scope of your review. This includes specifying:
- Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Defining the types of studies that will be included and excluded based on factors like study design, population characteristics, intervention type, outcome measures, and publication language.
- Timeframe: Specifying the date range for your literature search.
- Databases: Identifying the databases you will search (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science).
Clearly documenting your research question and scope ensures transparency and reproducibility, essential components of a rigorous systematic review dissertation.
Developing a Protocol
A protocol is a pre-defined plan that outlines the methods you will use to conduct your systematic review. Developing a protocol before starting your literature search is crucial for minimizing bias and ensuring transparency. The protocol should include:
- Background and Rationale: Justification for conducting the review and the significance of the research question.
- Objectives: Clearly stated aims of the review.
- Search Strategy: Detailed description of the search terms and databases to be used.
- Study Selection Criteria: Explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria.
- Data Extraction Methods: Description of the data to be extracted from each study.
- Risk of Bias Assessment: Methods for assessing the methodological quality of included studies.
- Data Synthesis: Plan for how the data will be synthesized and presented (e.g., narrative synthesis, meta-analysis).
Consider registering your protocol on platforms like PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews). This increases transparency and reduces the risk of duplication.
Conducting the Literature Search
The literature search is a critical step in the systematic review process. It must be comprehensive and systematic to ensure that all relevant studies are identified.
- Develop a Comprehensive Search Strategy: Use a combination of keywords, MeSH terms (in PubMed), and other controlled vocabulary specific to each database.
- Search Multiple Databases: Don’t rely on just one or two databases. Expand your search to include relevant specialized databases and grey literature sources (e.g., conference proceedings, dissertations).
- Document Your Search Strategy: Keep a detailed record of the search terms used for each database. This is essential for transparency and reproducibility.
- Manage Your Search Results: Use citation management software (e.g., EndNote, Zotero) to organize your search results and remove duplicates.
Study Selection
The study selection process involves screening the titles and abstracts of the identified studies to determine their eligibility for inclusion in the review.
- Apply the Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Carefully apply the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria to each title and abstract.
- Screen in Duplicate: Have two independent reviewers screen the titles and abstracts. Resolve any disagreements through discussion or by consulting a third reviewer.
- Document the Selection Process: Keep a record of the number of studies screened, the reasons for exclusion, and the number of studies included for full-text review.
- Full-Text Review: Obtain the full text of all potentially relevant studies and assess them against the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Data Extraction
Data extraction involves collecting relevant information from the included studies.
- Develop a Data Extraction Form: Create a standardized form to ensure that you extract the same information from each study. The form should include information about the study design, population characteristics, intervention, outcomes, and key findings.
- Extract Data in Duplicate: Have two independent reviewers extract data from each study. Resolve any disagreements through discussion or by consulting a third reviewer.
- Pilot Test the Data Extraction Form: Test the form on a small sample of studies to ensure that it is clear and comprehensive.
Risk of Bias Assessment
Assessing the risk of bias in the included studies is crucial for interpreting the results of the review.
- Use a Standardized Tool: Choose an appropriate tool for assessing the risk of bias based on the study designs of the included studies. Examples include the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2) for randomized controlled trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies.
- Assess Risk of Bias in Duplicate: Have two independent reviewers assess the risk of bias in each study. Resolve any disagreements through discussion or by consulting a third reviewer.
- Consider the Impact of Bias: Discuss the potential impact of bias on the findings of the review.
Data Synthesis and Analysis
Data synthesis involves summarizing and integrating the findings from the included studies. This can be done through narrative synthesis or meta-analysis.
- Narrative Synthesis: A narrative synthesis involves summarizing the findings from the included studies in a descriptive manner. This is appropriate when the studies are too heterogeneous to be combined statistically.
- Meta-Analysis: A meta-analysis involves statistically combining the results of multiple studies to estimate an overall effect size. This is appropriate when the studies are sufficiently homogeneous.
When conducting a meta-analysis, it’s important to:
- Choose an Appropriate Statistical Model: Select a fixed-effects or random-effects model based on the heterogeneity of the studies.
- Assess Heterogeneity: Use statistical tests (e.g., Cochran’s Q test, I-squared statistic) to assess the heterogeneity of the studies.
- Conduct Sensitivity Analyses: Perform sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of the findings.
- Address Publication Bias: Use statistical methods (e.g., funnel plots, Egger’s test) to assess the potential for publication bias.
Writing the Systematic Review Dissertation
The structure of a systematic review dissertation typically follows a standard format:
- Introduction: Provide background information on the topic, state the research question, and explain the rationale for conducting the review.
- Methods: Describe the methods used to conduct the review, including the search strategy, study selection criteria, data extraction methods, risk of bias assessment, and data synthesis.
- Results: Present the findings of the review, including the number of studies included, the characteristics of the included studies, the risk of bias assessment, and the results of the data synthesis.
- Discussion: Interpret the findings of the review, discuss the limitations of the review, and make recommendations for future research and practice.
- Conclusion: Summarize the main findings of the review and reiterate the significance of the research.
- References: List all the sources cited in the dissertation.
- Appendices: Include supplementary materials, such as the search strategy, data extraction form, and risk of bias assessment.
Seeking Help and Guidance
Writing a systematic literature review dissertation can be challenging. Don’t hesitate to seek help and guidance from your supervisor, librarians, and other experts. There are also numerous resources available online, including guidelines from the Cochrane Collaboration and the PRISMA statement. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your systematic review dissertation writing, do not hesitate to seek help with a systematic review dissertation from Exemplary Dissertations.
We offer professional help with dissertations, case studies, research papers and essays for undergraduate, Degree and Post graduate courses. Besides dissertation writing, we also do proofreading, editing, formatting and plagiarism removal for all academic papers.
Final Thoughts
A systematic review dissertation is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning, rigorous methodology, and meticulous execution. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of producing a high-quality, impactful dissertation that contributes meaningfully to your field. Remember to be systematic, transparent, and thorough throughout the process. Good luck!
