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Evidence Synthesis in Medicine and Health

Overview of types of literature reviews

 

Narrative Review

A Narrative Review is a "traditional" review that summarizes a body of evidence on a topic using informal methods to find and interpret studies  - offers  "expert opinion"

  • Summarizes and critiques the body of literature on a specific issue or topic
  • Research questions tend to be broader and more general
  • Provides context for research, identifies gaps in the literature, and situates research within an area of study
  • Often included with introduction to research study
  • Can be publication in its own right, and provides a deeper look at a specific issue or topic
  • Can be one or more authors
  • Can be completed in a few weeks to months

Comparison of a Traditional Literature Review and a Systematic Review

The following table is from Cornell University Library.