Thinking that you want to conduct an evidence synthesis review (ESR)? Successfully completing an ESR begins with a great deal of planning and forethought before you begin. This preliminary planning includes:
- Pre-developing your research question. Consider using a question framework.
- Who will work with you? ESRs need a team of researchers (at least 3 people) with complimentary expertise to design a question, conduct a thorough and transferrable search (engage your librarian!), and help mitigate researcher biases.
- Test your question. Is there an ESR out there already? Conduct a probing literature search to identify the databases that you need, test your question, and think about inclusion and exclusion criteria. Consider how you will document or log your searches as you go (see sample research log).
- Do you have enough time to complete the review? The time involved depends on the type of review that you are conducting. For example, systematic reviews can take approximately 18 months (see PRISMA guidelines) and timing for scoping reviews, may take longer than you think (approximately 18 months).
- Lastly, how will you manage this workflow? What tools do you have access to?
