Systematic Reviews. Enhancing Research Integrity and Validity? (PDF)

Essay from the year 2018 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: A, University of Malta, language: English, abstract: This essay delves into the weaknesses, advantages, and difficulties associated with both traditional literature reviews and systematic reviews. By exploring these facets, the nuances of literature review methodologies are illuminated, and the importance of methodological rigor in research endeavors is underscored.

Embarking on the journey of compiling a literature review is no simple feat. It demands adept organizational skills and efficient resource management. This crucial stage in the research process serves multifaceted purposes: elucidating the research's connection to prior studies, showcasing the relevance and novelty of the research problem, justifying the chosen methodology, and demonstrating preparedness to undertake the research endeavor. Through a literature review, the motivation behind the research, the chosen methodology's rationale, and the specific research direction are clarified.

While narrative reviews offer valuable insights, they often lack the systematic exploration inherent in their methodology. Researchers may inadvertently succumb to biases, focusing on select studies within a chosen area based on availability or author preference, thus introducing elements of selection bias. Additionally, narrative reviews may suffer from organizational shortcomings, a lack of critical analysis, and an insular perspective. In contrast, systematic reviews adhere to a comprehensive plan, employing rigorous search strategies and often incorporating meta-analysis to synthesize data from multiple studies.