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Questions and Answers
What is the main purpose of an umbrella review?
What is the main purpose of an umbrella review?
Which type of review focuses on understanding the 'how' and 'why' of interventions within specific contexts?
Which type of review focuses on understanding the 'how' and 'why' of interventions within specific contexts?
Which term describes the process of collecting and analyzing existing data to address a research question?
Which term describes the process of collecting and analyzing existing data to address a research question?
What is the primary purpose of a literature review?
What is the primary purpose of a literature review?
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What is a key characteristic of a mixed systematic review?
What is a key characteristic of a mixed systematic review?
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What is the main characteristic of Systematic Rapid Reviews?
What is the main characteristic of Systematic Rapid Reviews?
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Which of the following is a key characteristic of a systematic review?
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a systematic review?
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Which of the following is NOT a core element of a systematic review process?
Which of the following is NOT a core element of a systematic review process?
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How does an umbrella review differ from a systematic review?
How does an umbrella review differ from a systematic review?
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What distinguishes empirical research from desk-based research?
What distinguishes empirical research from desk-based research?
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What does 'Context-Mechanism-Outcome (CMO)' configuration explain in a realist review?
What does 'Context-Mechanism-Outcome (CMO)' configuration explain in a realist review?
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What critical step is essential in conducting a literature review?
What critical step is essential in conducting a literature review?
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Why is protocol development important in a systematic review?
Why is protocol development important in a systematic review?
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Why are unpublished studies included in a systematic review?
Why are unpublished studies included in a systematic review?
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Which aspect is crucial for reducing bias when conducting a systematic review?
Which aspect is crucial for reducing bias when conducting a systematic review?
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What does the term 'realist synthesis' refer to in the context of research?
What does the term 'realist synthesis' refer to in the context of research?
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What is the primary purpose of a systematic review?
What is the primary purpose of a systematic review?
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Which of the following best describes a meta-analysis?
Which of the following best describes a meta-analysis?
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If you are trying to find the 'likely' size and scope of research, which type of review should you conduct?
If you are trying to find the 'likely' size and scope of research, which type of review should you conduct?
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Which of these steps is part of conducting a literature review?
Which of these steps is part of conducting a literature review?
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Which type of review has the purpose of improving the understanding of a topic by focusing on what is currently considered important?
Which type of review has the purpose of improving the understanding of a topic by focusing on what is currently considered important?
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What is 'desk-based research'?
What is 'desk-based research'?
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Which action is least typically part of a 'systematic review' process?
Which action is least typically part of a 'systematic review' process?
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What is the first step when conducting a literature review?
What is the first step when conducting a literature review?
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Study Notes
Desk-Based Research
- Desk-based research involves gathering and analyzing existing information to answer a research question. It's often called secondary research.
- This research is conducted indirectly through the internet.
- Empirical research gathers original data (e.g., interviews, focus groups).
Types of Desk-Based Research
Literature Reviews
- Literature reviews synthesize existing research on a topic, identifying patterns, gaps, and relationships
- The process involves:
- Developing a search strategy for relevant literature, including databases, keywords, and inclusion/exclusion criteria.
- Critically appraising the quality and relevance of the studies being reviewed, considering their methodologies, findings, and limitations.
- Synthesizing findings into a coherent narrative or thematic analysis.
Systematic Reviews
- Systematic reviews are rigorous literature reviews aiming to answer a specific research question through comprehensive data collection and analysis.
- Key Characteristics Include:
- Developing a protocol that outlines the review's objectives, criteria, and methods.
- Conducting a comprehensive literature search that includes both published and unpublished studies to avoid publication bias.
- Extracting and analyzing data from eligible studies using standardized forms. This may sometimes use meta-analysis (statistical methods for combining data from multiple studies).
Umbrella Reviews
- An umbrella review summarizes the findings of multiple existing reviews on a topic to provide an overview.
- It focuses on existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses to give a high-level view.
Realist Reviews
- Focuses on understanding mechanisms through which interventions work in specific contexts.
- Approach involves:
- Developing and refining theories about how interventions achieve outcomes and Identifying and analyzing context-mechanism-outcome configurations to show how specific contexts affect the mechanisms that relate to specific outcomes.
Mixed Systematic Reviews
- Combines quantitative and qualitative studies to provide a comprehensive understanding.
Systematic Rapid Reviews
- Quickly summarizes existing research on a topic in a structured way.
- Follows a similar process to a systematic review but simplifies steps, like narrowing search criteria, to get results faster.
- It's useful when quick decisions are needed (e.g., in healthcare or policy-making).
Protocol Development
- Predefined objectives, criteria, and methods to minimise bias in a study.
Comprehensive Search
- Includes both published and unpublished studies to avoid publication bias.
Data Extraction and Analysis
- Use standardized forms and statistical methods for data to be applicable to meta-analysis.
Summary of Literature Reviews
- Summarizing existing research to determine patterns, gaps, and relationships.
Meta-analyses
- Synthesizing quantitative data from similar studies.
Scoping Reviews
- Determine the scope or size of research literature on a topic.
State-of-the-Art Reviews
- Evaluating current understanding of a topic for improving future work (e.g., annual reviews)
Desk-Based Research Steps - Literature Review
- Define the scope of your review by explicitly stating goals and aims.
- Locate existing reports using academic databases and libraries.
- Evaluate the credibility of the retrieved information.
- Synthesize findings and generate overall picture of a topic.
Desk-based Research Steps - Conducting a Systematic Review
- Clearly stating the research question and use a structured format (e.g., PICOs).
- Develop a review protocol outlining search strategies, inclusion/exclusion criteria and methodologies.
- Conduct comprehensive literature reviews using various databases.
- Use search terms with Boolean operators and refined search terms.
- Include gray (non-peer-reviewed) literature in the search when appropriate.
- Select studies that meet predetermined criteria and assess study quality (e.g., Cochrane Risk of Bias, Newcastle-Ottawa).
- Extract relevant data and synthesize results systematically and critically.
- Present findings in a structured report, including, but not limited to introductions, methods, results, discussions, and conclusions.
- Update the review periodically to incorporate new research and maintain relevance.
Desk-based Research Steps - Realist Review
- Define scope and research question using a framework like CIMO.
- Identify patterns across studies to understand mechanisms and outcomes related to a specific context and intervention.
- Refine theories built on findings and adapt to new data when needed.
Advantages of Realist Reviews
- Understand complexities of real-world interventions.
- Provides practical insights for policy makers and practitioners.
- Flexible and adaptable to changing findings.
Challenges of Realist Reviews
- Requires deep analytical thinking.
- Can be time-consuming.
- Subjective interpretation of data is possible.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts and types of desk-based research, including literature reviews and systematic reviews. It highlights the methods of gathering and analyzing existing information to address research questions while differentiating between desk-based and empirical research. Test your understanding of secondary research methods and their applications.
