What is a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
A systematic review collects and analyzes all evidence that answers a specific research question. In a systematic review, a question needs to be clearly defined and have inclusion and exclusion criteria. In general, specific and systematic methods selected are intended to minimize bias. This is followed by an extensive search of the literature and a critical analysis of the search results. The reason why a systematic review is conducted is to provide a current evidence-based answer to a specific question that in turn helps to inform decision making. Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Cochrane Reviews links to learn more about Systematic Reviews.
A systematic review can be combined with a meta-analysis. A meta-analysis is the use of statistical methods to summarize the results of a systematic review. Not every systematic review contains a meta-analysis. A meta-analysis may not be appropriate if the designs of the studies are too different, if there are concerns about the quality of studies, if the outcomes measured are not sufficiently similar for the result across the studies to be meaningful.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Systematic Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/library/researchguides/sytemsaticreviews.html
Cochrane Library. (n.d.). About Cochrane Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.cochranelibrary.com/about/about-cochrane-reviews
Differences Between Systematic and Literature Reviews
Source: Kysh, Lynn (2013): Difference between a systematic review and a literature review. [figshare]. Available at: https://figshare.com/articles/Difference_between_a_systematic_review_and_a_literature_review/766364