Levy Library Research Synthesis and Systematic Review Services: Other Review Types

There are many, many different types of reviews. The list below is not a comprehensive one, but shows some of the different types of reviews you may encounter in the research literature. If you have a question about one of these, or a review type not listed here, feel free to contact us via our Ask-A-Librarian service!

Rapid Reviews

These are systematic reviews that are done in a short period of type, often less than five weeks; because they are done so quickly, they omit certain sections of a traditional systematic review, making the methodology less rigorous. Rapid reviews should be undertaken only when there is a specific information need on a deadline.

Umbrella Reviews

Also called overviews of reviews. These are systematic reviews of systematic reviews.

Mapping Reviews

Similar to scoping reviews, these reviews are question-based rather than topic-based.

Mixed Methods Reviews

These reviews combine qualitative and quantitative studies to address the same overlapping or complementary review questions.

Realist Reviews

These are systematic reviews that provide explanations for why complex interventions may or may not work.

Sources:

1. Booth A. EVIDENT guidance for reviewing the evidence: A compendium of methodological literature and websites. University of Sheffield, Sheffield. 2016:13.
2. Grant MJ, Booth A. A typology of reviews: An analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health information & libraries journal. 2009 Jun;26(2):91-108.
3. Jewell ST, Foster MJ. Matching review type to research question: Which review is right for you? [PowerPoint presentation]. Medical Library Association. [updated 2018 Feb 26].
4. Sutton A, Clowes M, Preston L, Booth A. Meeting the review family: exploring review types and associated information retrieval requirements. Health information & libraries journal. 2019 Sep;36(3):202-22.

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