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Gerstein Science Information Centre

Knowledge syntheses: Systematic & Scoping Reviews, and other review types

What are knowledge syntheses?

In the context of knowledge translation, "synthesis" according to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2016) is defined as:

"'the contextualization and integration of research findings of individual research studies within the larger body of knowledge on the topic. A synthesis must be reproducible and transparent in its methods, using quantitative and/or qualitative methods. It could take the form of a systematic review; follow the methods developed by The Cochrane Collaboration; result from a consensus conference or expert panel and may synthesize qualitative or quantitative results."

Realist syntheses, narrative syntheses, meta-analyses, meta-syntheses and practice guidelines are all forms of knowledge synthesis.

Knowledge Syntheses - Differences and Similarities

The following table displays the similarities and differences between the most common types of reviews. This table was adapted from a variety of sources (Booth, 2016; Grant and Booth, 2009; Higgins & Green, 2011; Pham et al., 2014; and Tricco et al., 2015)

Knowledge synthesis 

A priori protocol required?

Protocol registration required? 

  Comprehensive  search?

Duplicate screening & data extraction?

Critical appraisal?

  Statistical analysis?

 Time 

Systematic Review

 YES, often published PROSPERO, JBI, OSF YES YES YES YES 1+ yr

Meta Analysis

 YES, often published PROSPERO, JBI, OSF YES  YES YES  YES 1+ yr

Scoping Review

 YES JBI, OSF, Research Registry & other  registries YES YES NO NO, charted evidence ~ 1 yr

 Rapid Review

 YES, often not published OSF, Research Registry, & other registries

NO, varied # of databases, dates and other limits

 Varied NO, but recommended

 NO, varied analysis methods

  ~1 - 6 mo

 Realist Review

 YES, some published OSF, Research Registry, & other registries YES  YES NO NO  1+ yr

 Overview of reviews

 YES, often published PROSPERO, OSF, & other registries

 YES, only reviews included

  YES YES YES  ~ 1 yr
Mapping Review Encouraged OSF, Research Registry, & other registries  YES  Varied NO NO 1+ yr 
Narrative Review NO Not necessary Varied, not necessary Varied, not necessary  NO NO

6 mo

- 1 yr 

Quiz: What Review is Right for You?

If you're wondering what type of knowledge synthesis best suits your research purposes, complete this short quiz. 

Please note that as of December 2019, this tool has 10 potential outcomes, all of which are for quantitative studies. Stay tuned for this tool to include qualitative studies!