Literature Reviews: Systematic & Narrative: Systematic Narrative Reviews

A systematic narrative review applies a systematic and rigorous process to identifying and selecting studies, but then synthesises and presents the results narratively rather than quantitatively.

With the vast amount of research being produced worldwide, systematic reviews are becoming increasingly popular because they synthesise large bodies of evidence in a structured and transparent way. However, since systematic reviews have their roots in the medical field, where they are used to establish evidence-based best practices for interventions, their rigid framework can be difficult to apply to broader or more qualitative topics. This is where the systematic narrative review can be valuable: it conducts a narrative or qualitative literature review across a range of disciplines (such as health, social sciences, and business) while still following a systematic methodology and drawing on diverse types of resources.

If you're planning to take this more formal route, the Systematic Review Guide will be more relevant, particularly in terms of the support the Library can offer around systematic searching.