Scoping Review Steps
The scoping review process is very similar to systematic reviews, with the primary difference being that scoping reviews are exploratory and not looking to answer a specific question. Their purpose may be to gather information, form a topic/hypothesis, set parameters for research, or describe the existing state of the research on a topic.
Scoping review searches are still very comprehensive, and typically scoping reviews consist of a team of at least 2 people to conduct the review. Inclusion criteria for articles is still utilized, and scoping reviews have a replicable search process.
- Identify the research question(s) (see above)
- Develop the inclusion criteria
- Develop a comprehensive search strategy
- Search relevant databases
- Perform grey literature searches (dissertations, conference papers, reports) and supplementary searches (e.g., forward/backwards citations, handsearching journals, contacting authors)
- Screen titles and abstracts using eligibility criteria, usually done by 2 reviewers
- Screen full text noting the reason for exclusion, usually done by 2 reviewers
- Develop a form or table to extract (or chart) data from the study
- Analyze data, typically using descriptive statistics or descriptive approaches
- Report search methods; and report results of the literature searches and screening (PRISMA Flow Chart/Diagram)
- Report results that answer the study's research questions
Based on Arksey & O'Malley (2005) and Peters et al. (2020).
Attribution: Unless noted otherwise, this section of the guide was adapted from Texas A&M's "Systematic Reviews and Related Evidence Syntheses"
