This is a guide for students who want to do a systematic search as part of a thesis or project. When you conduct a systematic review, it is necessary to perform an extensive literature search. For you as a student it might not be possible to fulfill all the criteria of a systematic review but you still can use parts of the systematical methodology.
If you are a researcher and want to conduct a systematic review, please see our guide to systematic reviews.
A systematic search
- is needed to find all available research within a defined research area.
- follows a strict methodology and must be transparent, replicable and carefully documented.
- is very resource-intensive in terms of time and skills.
- is the basis of a systematic review.
- is needed if you want to do a structured literature study with elements of the methodology for systematic reviews.
The search process for a systematic search is as follows:
- Choose a subject.
- Create a search question.
- Structure your search question by using an acronym, for example PICO.
- Define inclusion and exclusion criteria.
- Split the search into blocks.
- Start looking for terms and search.