Image Source: What authors DO. Designed by Jessica Kaufman, Cochrane Consumers & Communication Review Group, Centre for Health Communication & Participation, La Trobe University, 2011.
Evidence synthesis is "...a type of research method that allows researchers to bring together all relevant information on a research question. This can be useful to identify gaps in knowledge, establish an evidence base for best-practice guidance, or help inform policymakers and practitioners" (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).
There are many different types of evidence synthesis.
Evidence synthesis methods like systematic reviews and scoping reviews have traditionally been used in the health sciences, but have become more prevalent in the social sciences in recent years. Scholars across the social sciences have continued to develop, test, and standardize best practices to use for these emerging methods.
Some things to consider as you embark on a writing an evidence synthesis review.
What type of review will you do?
See the page of this guide "Types of Evidence Synthesis".
What databases will you search?
How will you track the searching you have already done? **Link to literature review spreadsheet.**
Use library guides and talk to librarians.
Has a recent review already been done about the topic of your research?.
Search to see if the review you want to write has already been written, or to determine if your review can extend the literature in some way.
Don't forget to check if relevant review articles you find have been cited. This is one way (among others) to discover new literature, including other reviews.
Consider a protocol and pre-registration
Look at sample reviews in your subject area and see what protocols they use.
Additional ideas/tips:
Special thanks go to Julia Maxwell at Rutgers University, who has graciously allowed her guide to serve as a template.
This guide would not have been possible without the guidance, support, and feedback of RBHS librarians Yingting Zhang and Matthew Bridgeman.
This guide has benefitted from the excellent work of many other university libraries, including Monash University, University of South Australia, University of North Carolina, Cornell University, University of British Columbia, University of Melbourne, CQ University, University of Maryland, and Duquesne University Libraries.