How is a literature review different?
Systematic review vs literature review
Some of the different characteristics of a systematic review and a literature review are outlined below:
| Systematic review |
Literature review |
| High-level overview of primary research on a focused question that identifies, selects, synthesises, and appraises all high-quality research evidence relevant to that question |
Qualitatively summarises evidence on a topic using informal or subjective methods to collect and interpret studies |
| Pre-specified eligibility or exclusion criteria |
Pre-specified eligibility or exclusion criteria not necessary |
| Systematic, replicable, search strategy |
Systematic, replicable, search strategy not necessary |
| More than one author |
Commonly one author |
| Eliminating bias is a key intention |
Summarising literature on a topic is the key intention |
| Takes months to years to complete |
Takes weeks to months to complete |
Further information:
The difference between a systematic review and a literature review. Covidence
Difference between a systematic review and a literature review. [figshare] Kysh, Lynn (2013):
