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Reusable Learning Objects

Systematic Review Teaching Materials

The systematic review teaching materials consists of four units.

Guide to using the learning units

The Units are aimed at undergraduates preparing for their final project or dissertation. Postgraduates in library and information science should also find the materials relevant to their research training. The Units complement, but do not replace existing research methods modules. Students should remember to consult their own departmental guidelines on literature reviewing as well.

Using the materials

You should scan each learning Unit before starting work on the Units. During the scan, identify the documents that you are asked to use. Some of these documents may be directly linked, others you may need to download (and perhaps print out) before using the Units.

You will probably find using the materials easier if you do the downloading and/or printing out first, before starting to work through the materials.

You're ready!

Have you downloaded the articles or other documents for the Unit you wish to use?

Remember that the Units are independent learning Units. Most students will wish to work through the Units in order, one through to four, but you do not need to do that.

Details of the four units and a link to download them can be found below.


Title
Unit 1 What is a systematic review?
Description
Unit 1 describes the main characteristics of a systematic review, and why these characteristics help to make a systematic review useful.
Keywords
literature review, systematic review
Objectives
To examine the reasons for being systematic in a literature review, To identify some characteristics of a systematic literature review, To explain why systematic reviews are important in many sectors of public policymaking
Author
Christine Urquhart, Aberystwyth University
Organisation
Higher Education Academy - ICS subject centre
Version
Version 1
Date
30 November 2007
Copyright
Higher Education Academy - ICS subject centre
Materials
The teaching materials are available to download or view online:
Title
Unit 2 Formulating searches for research evidence
Description
Unit 2 discusses how to formulate a search strategy for locating good quality research evidence
Keywords
Background / foreground questions, search terms
Objectives
To define a good question for the search, To identify the search terms to use, To use different search approaches to retrieve research, To present the search strategy, and your approach to searching in a review.
Author
Christine Urquhart, Aberystwyth University, Dina Tbaishat, Aberystwyth University
Organisation
Higher Education Academy - ICS subject centre
Version
Version 1
Date
30 November 2007
Copyright
Higher Education Academy - ICS subject centre
Materials
The teaching materials are available to download or view online:
Title
Unit 3 Producing a systematic review
Description
Unit 3 examines how to sift and grade the evidence
Keywords
Appraisal, qualitative research, quantitative research
Objectives
To apply some sifting techniques to locate good quality evidence, To appraise qualitative research, To appraise quantitative research, To present the parts of a systematic review.
Author
Alison Brettle, Salford University, Christine Urquhart, Aberystwyth University, Alison Yeoman, Aberystwyth University
Organisation
Higher Education Academy - ICS subject centre
Version
Version 1
Date
30 November 2007
Copyright
Higher Education Academy - ICS subject centre
Materials
The teaching materials are available to download or view online:
Title
Unit 4 Outputs - meta-analysis, meta-synthesis and guidelines
Description
Using systematic reviews to provide useful evidence for practice
Keywords
Meta-analysis, meta-synthesis, practice guidelines
Objectives
To synthesise findings from different studies (quantitative and qualitative); To explain types of evidence; To develop a guideline
Author
Christine Urquhart, Aberystwyth University, Alison Brettle, Salford University
Organisation
Higher Education Academy - ICS subject centre
Version
Version 1
Date
30 November 2007
Copyright
Higher Education Academy - ICS subject centre
Materials
The teaching materials are available to download or view online:

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