Types of
Literature
Reviews
Kristy Padron, MLIS
Associate University Librarian
kpadron@fau.edu

What will we be learning?
Image source: Review and typewriter, by Markus Winkler, https://unsplash.com/photos/-fRAIQHKcc0.
Permission by Unsplash.com license.
• Distinguish
various types of
reviews, their
purposes, and
their
characteristics.

Reviews can be different by type and purpose.
Main differences:
 Discipline norms: for example, one for nursing will be different
than one for business.
 Purpose: the reason for a review.
 Scope: how much will be included in the review or how far back
the literature was published.
 Rigor: Selection and appraisal
 Some disciplines have standards for their reviews (e.g., medical and
health care has PRISMA).
 Pre-established criteria: before a search begins, researchers
decide on what publications and studies to include in their review.
Criteria may include subjects, study design, methodology,
outcomes, and years of publication.
Differences Between Reviews

 Scoping
 State-of-the-art or
science
 Narrative Review (aka
Literature Review)
 Systematic Review
 Meta-analysis
There’s more out there,
but here are some
common ones.
Let’s see some
examples!
Types of Reviews
Image: Telescope, by Roksana96. Permission by Pixabay.com license.

Scoping Review
How much and what
information is out
there?
• Preliminary
assessment of size
and scope of
available literature.
• Identify the extent and
nature of past and
current research.
Kulawiak, P. R. (2021). Academic
benefits of wearing noise-cancelling
headphones during class for typically
developing students and students with
special needs: A scoping review.
Cogent Education (8)1.
https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2021
.1957530. Image permission by CC-BY
4.0.

State-of-the-art or
science
What is new or current,
and what new points can
they lead to?
• Focuses on current
research and
knowledge.
• May offer new
perspectives or identify
areas for further
research.
Climent, S., Sanchez, A., Capella, J. V.,
Meratnia, N., & Serrano, J. J. (2014).
Underwater acoustic wireless sensor networks:
Advances and future trends in physical, MAC
and routing layers. Sensors (14)1: 795-833.
https://doi.org/10.3390/s140100795. Image
permission by CC-BY.

Narrative Review (a.k.a.
Literature Review)
What publications are out
there and what are their
attributes?
• Generic term.
• An examination of past
and/ or current
publications.
• May cover a range of
subjects with varying
levels of completeness
and comprehensiveness.
Matriniuk, A.L.C., Manoucherhrian, M., Negrin,
J.A. & Zwi, A.B. (2012). Brain Gains: A
literature review of medical missions to low
and middle-income countries. BMC Health
Services Research, 12:134.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-12-134.
Image permission by CC-BY 2.0.

Systematic Review
What can be summarized
from selected multiple
studies with pre-established
criteria?
• Searching and selecting
literature based on pre-
established criteria
(subjects, study design,
methodology, outcomes,
years of publication).
• Some disciplines may use
a standard to structure
their review.
• Summarizing the evidence
or what is found.
Lee, N.K., & Rawson, R.A. (2009). A
systematic review of cognitive and behavioural
therapies for methamphetamine dependence.
Drug and Alcohol Review, 27 (3): 309-
317. https://doi.org/10.1080/09595230801919
494. Image permission by CC-BY 2.0.

Meta-Analysis
What are the results and
conclusions when data from
similar studies are analyzed
together?
• Searching for and
selecting literature based
on pre-established criteria.
• Follows a standard of
reporting (e.g., PRISMA).
• Combines the data of
multiple studies to improve
estimates and/ or to
resolve uncertainties when
research or individual
studies disagree.
Martinez-Gonzalez, N.A., Djalali, S., Tandjung,
R., Huber-Geismann, F., Markun, S., Wensing,
M., & Roseman, T. (2014). Substitution of
physicals by nurses in primary care: A
systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC
Health Services Research, 14:214.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-14-214.
Image permission by CC-BY 2.0.

Summary of Types of Reviews
Type of
Review
Summary Definition
Scoping Review How much and
what information
is out there?
• Preliminary assessment of size and scope of available literature.
• Identify the extent and nature of past and current research.
State-of-the-art
or science
What is new or
current, and what
new points can
they lead to?
• Focuses on current research and knowledge.
• May offer new perspectives or identify areas for further research.
Narrative
Review (a.k.a.
Literature
Review)
What publications
are out there and
what are their
attributes?
• Generic term.
• An examination of past and/ or current publications.
• May cover a range of subjects with varying levels of completeness
and comprehensiveness.
Systematic
Review
What can be
summarized from
selected multiple
studies with pre-
established
criteria?
• Searching and selecting literature based on pre-established criteria
(subjects, study design, methodology, outcomes, years of
publication).
• Some disciplines may use a standard to structure their review.
• Summarizing the evidence or what is found.
Meta-Analysis What are the
results and
conclusions when
data from similar
studies are
analyzed
together?
• Searching for and selecting literature based on pre-established
criteria.
• Follows a standard of reporting (e.g., PRISMA).
• Combines the data of multiple studies to improve estimates and/ or
to resolve uncertainties when research or individual studies
disagree.

Which type of review may be
best for the given scenarios?
Scenario 1: A nurse professor is applying for an NIH grant
and needs strong support and evidence for her proposal.
Scenario 2: A student wants to see how much has been
published on the 1920 Ocoee (FL) Massacre.
Scenario 3: An civil engineering professor wants current
standards for concrete used for roads.
Scenario 4: A T.A. is looking for psychology studies on
short-term memory retention among elderly people without
cognitive difficulties.
Image credits: by Pixabay.com. Permission by Pixabay license.

Which type of review may be
best for the given scenarios?
Scenario 1: A nurse professor is applying for an NIH grant
and needs strong support and evidence for her proposal.
Scenario 2: A student wants to see how much has been
published on the 1920 Ocoee (FL) Massacre.
Scenario 3: An civil engineering professor wants current
standards for concrete used for roads.
Scenario 4: A T.A. is looking for psychology studies on
short-term memory retention among elderly people without
cognitive difficulties.
Image credits: by Pixabay.com. Permission by Pixabay license.
Most likely a systematic review.
Most likely a scoping review.
Most likely a state-of-the-science review.
Most likely a literature review.

Types of
Literature
Reviews
Kristy Padron, MLIS
Associate University Librarian
kpadron@fau.edu