Reviewing the literature

“Developing a clear and concise question is the first and one of the most important steps in conducting a systematic review, as this will guide the review process” (Tricco et al., 2011, p. 14).  

Furthermore, it will make the process of developing keywords and synonyms for a search strategy easier and you will retrieve more relevant results (Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, 2021). 

To design a research question: 

1. Find a topic: Something interesting to you. Consider how many papers are published on it and any research gap.
2. Research the area: Read widely on the topic area. Note any themes appearing or research problems.
3. Narrow down: Refine the topic to become very specific and specialised.
4. Turn into a question: The structure of your research question will depend on what type of review you are conducting, e.g., a scoping review may have a broader more open question versus a systematic review that will have a very narrow and specific question that might be testing or comparing treatments or drug therapy.
5. Test and refine: Ask peers and colleagues for their feedback. 

For further information, go to the Study Skills Designing a research question page. 

You will need to consider the scope of the question and set boundaries as to what is included and excluded. This is done after an initial scoping search to estimate the size and nature of the available literature. Consider: 

(Booth et al., 2022)

The stakeholders of the review will also influence the question. Consult with them to ensure it is appropriate, and if your review is likely to inform practice or policy, consult experts for their input.