Formulating your question is the key to a successful systematic review. Research questions need to be clear, focused, not too broad or too narrow.
Frameworks like PICO, SPIDER, ECLIPSE, and SPICE can help formulate your question and can also be used in the literature search to help determine your search terms.
Use this framework for Nursing and Health Sciences
P Population, Problem or Patient I Intervention C Comparison O Outcome T Time S Study |
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Further Reading:
Methley, A. M., Campbell, S., Chew-Graham, C., McNally, R., & Cheraghi-Sohi, S. (2014). PICO, PICOS and SPIDER: A comparison study of specificity and sensitivity in three search tools for qualitative systematic reviews. BMC Health Services Research, 14(1), 579. https://doi.org/10.1186/ s12913-014-0579-0
Use this framework for the Social Sciences
S Setting P Perspective I Intervention C Comparison E Evaluation
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Further Reading:
Riesenberg, L. A., & Justice, E. M. (2014). Conducting a successful systematic review of the literature, part 1. Nursing (Jenkintown, Pa.), 44(4), 13–17. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000444728.68018.ac
Use this framework for Healthcare Management and Improvement
E Expectations C Client Group L Location I Impact P Professional Involved SE SErvice
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Further Reading:
Pollock, A., & Berge, E. (2018). How to do a systematic review. International Journal of Stroke, 13(2), 138–156. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747493017743796
Use this framework for Health and Qualitative Research
S Sample Size P Phenomenon of Interest S Study Design E Evaluation R Research Type
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Further Reading:
Cooke, A., Smith, D., & Booth, A. (2012). Beyond PICO: The SPIDER Tool for Qualitative Evidence Synthesis. Qualitative Health Research, 22(10), 1435–1443. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732312452938