Introduction
Literature reviews are crucial for academic research, as they assemble available knowledge and are essential for state-of-the-art examination. To commence inquiry, scholars must evaluate all prior accomplishments in a specific theme or issue. It is obligatory to justify exploration questions through a thorough, analytical review of the literature.
Systematic literature review (SLR) employs a transparent, replicable workflow to provide an objective and exhaustive review of studies on the specified topic. It also stimulates examination beyond the subject area to explore possible routes for the development of analysis. The main purpose of an SLR is the structured collection of data and the evaluation of information based on specific criteria.
Literature Review
The works of various researchers provide valuable background for this research, as Booth et al. (2021), Paul et al. (2021), and Mengist et al. (2020) provide in-depth explanations of pre-writing steps in SLR, which assisted in the creation of this paper. Additionally, reports by Linnenluecke et al. (2020), Shaffril et al. (2020), and Barker et al. (2021) presented the main characteristics of the method, along with additional instruments for functional analysis. All of the mentioned works make a great contribution to further inquiry and provide extensive data on research as a scientific activity.
Background
Due to the constant growth of academic knowledge databases, there is a high likelihood of finding more low-quality articles across different themes, which overwhelm scholarly journals and make high-quality analysis less accessible. The systematic literature review is a means to address this problem, as it can be conducted according to specific criteria, such as author or thematic orientation. Those types of inquiry can provide more direct intel on preferred author works or chosen themes, using better analysis methods. It is also a way to lay proper groundwork in response to “narrative” research, as the latter ignores the entirety of the material, operating only with selected literature (Linnenluecke et al., 2020). The systematic literature review synthesizes all available data on a specific question, creating large-scale samples of information, even from other areas of science.
As an approach, SLR has to provide more than other types of analysis and redo some parts of the exploration, utilizing a wide range of methods to do so. The creation of a systematic literature review is a long and thorough process, as it requires addressing the chosen subject through the lens of multiple scientific fields. It also means going through the data step by step, so the probe is more exhaustive and meets a consensus reporting guideline, allowing the SLR to be reusable and recyclable (Booth et al., 2021). The list of requirements grows exponentially as the amount of academic information expands.
Methodology
This paper aims to answer the question of how to conduct a systematic literature review and to showcase the key qualities of an efficient SLR. It also aims to provide an overview of different types and approaches to the literature review, and to explain how to overcome the limitations of modern research. The importance of this study lies in the mentioned ballooning of low-quality articles, which makes the exploration of some branches of science problematic. The proper use of SLR is necessary to expand knowledge in specific areas; its concept must be thoroughly dissected and made understandable for widespread use.
Results
Before even starting with any literature review, there are some practical steps to take. Firstly, one has to choose a topic and think about the purpose of the study. What would be depicted in it, a new perspective on the theme or an expansion of some niche question – this point should be made clear before everything (Booth et al., 2021). At the same time, the author needs to decide which audience will consume his work and possibly acknowledge the necessity of inspection beyond the chosen theme.
Additionally, one should review papers on similar topics to avoid repetition and ensure innovation in the study, thereby reducing the possibility of plagiarism (Paul et al., 2021). With this, the issue of data origin should be resolved, as scholars select the direction of the work and its “genre,” picturing how the analysis would be built (Booth et al., 2021). With the completion of these steps, one can proceed to begin conducting a systematic literature review.
For the initial steps in SLR, the author must form their keywords, the terms around which the review would revolve. This step should make the search process easier, as the scholar has to examine the literature on the chosen subject and work through the information. It is important to collect works that examine the theme from different perspectives.
To avoid bias, subjectivity, and untruth, research has to include opposing perspectives and evaluate the contributions of each side presented. However, the inclusion and exclusion criteria should be applied to the selected literature, as some of it may be only superficial and may not provide the required quality of information (Linnenluecke et al., 2020). Furthermore, it would be useful to check if cited papers are cited in other works, as the usage of acknowledged data is much preferred in SLR.
During the inspection process, the author should perform data cleaning to prepare the most relevant information for use. This process cannot be done subjectively, as it would bias the review and render all work as a failure (Linnenluecke et al., 2020). The writer has evaluated each article based on its relevance to the subject of study, the methodology used, and its potential to contribute something innovative (Shaffril et al., 2020). After doing so, one would be left with papers directly related to the matter, enabling a qualitative, systematic literature review.
In creating the systematic literature review, the author must refer to different methodologies that determine its peculiarities. The main way to begin is the Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis (SALSA) framework – a methodology for determining search protocols (Mengist et al., 2020). Use of this technique ensures methodological accuracy, systematization, exhaustiveness, and reproducibility, reducing the risk of publication bias and enhancing the acceptability of the work. The writer should always refer to SALSA in the SLR writing process.
With the steps mentioned completed, the author can proceed with data analysis and the synthesis of evidence. Each reference should be dissected for the required information and used to create graphical or other information. The synthesis can be conducted qualitatively and quantitatively; each approach contributes to a better analysis of the theme. Qualitative analysis interprets information in an explanatory way, while quantitative analysis suits research based on big data studies, providing a method to handle large volumes of information (Shaffril et al., 2020). An alternative option to present analysis is a visual representation of the issue’s historical development via bibliographic mapping.
Bibliographic mapping is a technique for creating a map that demonstrates the expansion of knowledge on a topic over time. It is useful in SLR, as it directly filters out irrelevant sources, helping identify the most relevant ones (Linnenluecke et al., 2020). Topic extraction tools also help with SLR literature, as they identify influential papers based on keywords and are beneficial for database development.
This method provides the writer with insight into historical changes in the field of study and visualizes shifts in the perception of concepts, thereby enhancing the research (Linnenluecke et al., 2020). Some tools recognize and clarify topics in scholarly journals and magazines through entity linking, reducing the “white noise” for the author to sift through (Linnenluecke et al., 2020). With that out of the way, a systematic literature review can be conducted.
In the study conducted by Linnenluecke et al. (2020), several useful programs for conducting proper data synthesis for SLR are presented. Firstly, HistCite is a tool that compiles data and citations and conducts completeness checks. As a result, it provides a citation map, depicting the interconnections in cited works, assisting in forming a resource list of works. It is also a great way to engage in practical work outside the chosen field of study.
To conduct a systematic literature review, the author may also use R, a statistical programming language and environment. The package ecosystem in it is one of its greatest strengths. There are packages available for the most commonly used statistical, data analysis, and visualization techniques, and they are updated regularly to incorporate new and emerging methods published by leading academic researchers (Linnenluecke et al., 2020; Barker et al., 2021).
R also offers a wide range of packages for different areas of interest, such as systematic literature review or meta-analysis. It can also provide a map, similar to HistCite, or a thematic concept evolution (Linnenluecke et al., 2020). As a whole, R is a great resource for SLR, as it handles vast amounts of data and can function even beyond examination needs.
Another remarkable tool is the ResGap application, designed to identify and annotate term entities in abstracts, articles, and publications. It can detect topics and research that gained traction in short time spans, statistically strengthening researchers’ statements. ResGap produces a temperature map of the prominence of the chosen subject in the selected time period (Linnenluecke et al., 2020). The capabilities of this tool are not limited to the results shown; it also constructs a spanning tree that connects the topics of study. This service can additionally expand the scope of science branches to enhance writing.
As mentioned before, there are several types of SLR, meaning that no single method is appropriate for every study, and the writer has to be flexible. According to Booth et al. (2021), one can use at least 5 distinguishable approaches to the systematic literature review, such as Campbell, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), basic systematic review, network, and basic meta-analysis. Campbell’s review is a process of evidence synthesis that involves creating a summary of the highest-quality information on a particular subject, helping to determine if the probation conducted was thorough.
JBI, on the other hand, aims to provide a synopsis of all existing evidence on a theme through meticulous analysis, while a basic SLR strives to apply bias-reduction tactics (Booth et al., 2021). Meta-analysis is an extension of a systematic review that examines the causal relationship between study outcomes. Network variants operate on a deeper, more substantial body of data.
The presented tools and approaches each have their respective advantages and disadvantages. HistCite generates citation networks that map highly cited publications and their interrelations over time. However, it requires a minimum citation threshold, which may bias the display of citations towards older papers.
The heat-mapping algorithm in R detects trends and topics and models their emergence over time, irrespective of whether the associated papers receive citations. The maximum spanning tree shows substantive connections within the literature but does not provide insights into the specific contributions of individual papers to a debate. All these factors should serve as stimuli for a writer to use each method according to the chosen subject and branch of study.
Conclusion
Overall, as a research method, a systematic literature review has distinct characteristics, such as complexity, objectivity, depth, and extensive criteria for refinement. The extensive preparation before even starting the SLR makes it even more special, as whiter has to review more papers than focus on the research itself. However, the data exploration process could and should be made easier with the mentioned techniques and tools.
The use of external technical help can aid data analysis. Still, the main focus stays on the author’s ability to distinguish information and filter it to create a comprehensible and unique study. Conducting a systematic literature review is an exhaustive process, but it is essential for scientific progress.
To summarize, SLR is a crucial part of science, as it involves the structured collection and evaluation of information to provide high-quality research on the chosen topic. To conduct one, the writer has to examine a wide range of information, using multiple criteria for data inclusion. This makes systematic literature review extremely valuable in modern knowledge systems, as it requires broader, more detailed work on the material to conduct first-rate studies.
References
Barker, T.H., Migliavaca, C.B., Stein, C., Colpani, V., Falavigna, M., Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2021). Conducting proportional meta-analysis in different types of systematic reviews: a guide for synthesisers of evidence. BMC Med Res Methodol 21(189).
Booth, A., Sutton, A., Clowes, M., & Martyn-St James, M. (2021). Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. SAGE Publications.
Linnenluecke, M. K., Marrone, M., & Singh, A. K. (2020). Conducting systematic literature reviews and bibliometric analyses. Australian Journal of Management, 45(2), 175-194.
Mengist, W., Soromessa, T., & Legese, G. (2020). Method for conducting systematic literature review and meta-analysis for environmental science research. MethodsX, 7.
Paul, J., Lim, W. M., O’Cass, A., Hao, A. W., & Bresciani, S. (2021). Scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews (SPAR‐4‐SLR). International Journal of Consumer Studies, 45(4).
Shaffril, H. M. A., Samsuddin, S. F., & Abu Samah, A. (2020). The ABC of systematic literature review: the basic methodological guidance for beginners. Quality & Quantity, 7.