Skip to Main Content

Literature review methods

Screening

Identifying studies for inclusion

The screening process is based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria that you outlined in the protocol. Start by screening titles and abstracts.  You will then need the full text of an article for more detailed screening.

Reduce selection bias

In order to reduce the risk of selection bias, it is important to have a team of at least two or three reviewers. To ensure faster and more accurate screening, it is recommended that the team do a pilot screening first to identify any difficulties with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. It is also important to report how many reviewers screened at each stage (titel/abstract or full-text) and what process was used to resolve any disagreements.

Additional resources