2. What is a Systematic Review?

Systematic reviews are important resources for the practice of social and educational sciences and for future research in related fields. Systematic reviews provide a meticulously summarized version of all the research that can answer an academic question. Since previous research is the data for a systematic review, systematic reviews are sometimes referred to as research on research or secondary research (Clarke, 2011). However, systematic reviews are more than just a literature review, which most academics will be familiar with, as they follow a methodological process to identify and analyze the existing literature (Cumpston et al., 2023).

The systematic review method aims to increase the reliability of research results by minimizing bias on a topic. There are some basic features that systematic reviews should have;

• The selection of studies for inclusion in the review should be based on inclusion criteria that meet predetermined objectives,
• A repeatable and transparent method,
• A rigorous and comprehensive pre-planned literature review to identify all relevant research,
• Assessing the validity of the findings of the included studies,
• A systematic presentation and synthesis of included studies (Higgins & Green, 2008).

Systematic reviews can involve time-consuming and complex processes. Before embarking on a review, it is helpful to have an adequate understanding of systematic reviews and to be prepared for the problems that may arise. Reeves et al., 2002 provided twelve valuable suggestions for researchers conducting systematic reviews that would be advantageous for them to consider before starting their research:

• To show attention to the process of selecting the research group to be examined,
• Allocate time for tasks in the early stages of the build to minimize problems in later stages,
• A novice researcher conducting the process together with an expert,
• Regular meetings of the research team to record and improve progress,
• Developing a detailed and comprehensive protocol for the transparent, planned, and rigorous conduct of the review,
• Identifying the databases and the search strategy to be used in screening sources. In addition, to continuously check and update the strategy during the process,
• Being flexible to make the problems encountered more manageable,
• Establish an ongoing quality assurance system to eliminate biases that the research team may develop in the process,
• Be prepared to take the time needed to create a variety of draft tables with information on the context, results, and methods of the research,
• Ensure that you are familiar with useful software and data analysis methods in order to minimize the difficulties in processing the acquired data,
• Allocating sufficient time to discuss and explore the conclusions reached in the analysis stages of the reviews.
• To develop collaboration and an in-depth understanding of the review process, set workshop times to carry out the tasks with the team as much as possible (Reeves et al., 2002).

Indeed, the suggestions mentioned earlier are important in writing a meticulously prepared review. For example, selecting and grouping the studies to be examined is undeniably essential in laying the foundation for a systematic review. While making this selection, it is necessary to meticulously determine the inclusion and exclusion criteria. For example, criteria such as the years to be covered by the systematic review or the indexes in which the articles to be selected will be indexed should be determined in advance.

In summary, systematic reviews serve as important resources in the social and educational sciences, providing a rigorously summarized version of existing research and guiding future research in related fields. With their methodological approach, systematic reviews aim to increase the reliability of research results and adhere to predetermined objectives and strict selection criteria. Although systematic reviews involve complex and time-consuming processes, careful planning and compliance with the guidelines outlined by Reeves et al. (2002) alleviate the difficulties and ensure the quality and transparency of the review process. Thus, systematic reviews form the basis of knowledge advancement across a variety of academic disciplines and have an important role in informing evidence-based practice.