Searching the Literature

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key concepts related to literature reviews in health studies.

Literature Review

A survey that summarizes and evaluates a body of writings about a specific topic.

Comprehensiveness

A characteristic of a good literature review, meaning it covers all relevant information.

Systematic Review

A literature review that identifies, selects, and critically appraises research to answer a clearly formulated research question.

Scoping Review

A form of knowledge synthesis that maps key concepts, types of evidence, and gaps in research.

Traditional Review

A narrative literature review that critiques and synthesizes previous research.

Meta-analysis

A quantitative method for combining results from multiple studies to arrive at a summary effect.

Primary Sources

Research studies written by the original researchers who conducted the study.

Secondary Sources

Research reviews written by people other than the original researchers.

Inclusion Criteria

Specifications established to determine which studies to include in a systematic review.

Exclusion Criteria

Specifications established to determine which studies to exclude from a systematic review.

Efficacy

A term describing the ability of an intervention to produce the desired beneficial effect in controlled conditions.

Annotation

A brief critical synopsis of each selected article during the literature review process.

Bias

A systematic error that can affect the outcome of a study or review.

Critical Appraisal

The process of systematically evaluating research to determine its validity and relevance.

Research Protocol

A detailed plan for conducting a systematic review, including background, research questions, and methods.

Thematic Organization

The process of grouping literature under common themes and subthemes.

Quantitative Synthesis

Statistical methods used to combine results from quantitative studies.

Qualitative Synthesis

The process of synthesizing and interpreting qualitative research findings.

Effect Size

A measure that quantifies the strength of the relationship between two variables in a meta-analysis.

Recommendations for Future Research

Suggestions based on gaps identified in existing literature, directing future studies.

Audit Trail

Documentation of the review process to ensure transparency and replication.