This intensive 8-hour online course provides a comprehensive grounding in planning, conducting and reporting systematic literature reviews, an essential research method for synthesising evidence in health sciences, social sciences and other fields. Designed for early career researchers, graduate students and professionals, the course combines lectures, interactive discussions and practical activities to ensure that participants gain both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

 

Participants will explore each step of the systematic review process, starting with the development of clear research questions using frameworks such as PICO, SPIDER or PEO. The course then moves on to creating robust and replicable search strategies, making effective use of Boolean operators and academic databases to ensure comprehensive coverage of the literature. Emphasis is placed on screening and selecting relevant studies using inclusion/exclusion criteria, systematically extracting and managing data, and critically appraising study quality.

 

The course also introduces participants to qualitative and quantitative synthesis techniques, including thematic synthesis and meta-analysis, with an emphasis on the interpretation and reporting of results according to PRISMA guidelines. The course also provides strategies for addressing common challenges such as publication bias, heterogeneity and methodological limitations to ensure high quality and impactful reviews.

 

The final session provides a hands-on introduction to AI-assisted systematic reviews using the innovative ASreview software, equipping participants with cutting-edge tools to improve efficiency and accuracy.