Research Guides: Systematic Reviews at UC Libraries: Social Sciences

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Go-To Databases

Subject Databases

APA PsycARTICLES PsycArticles is largely a subset of PsycINFO database, but all 188,000+ articles are full text. PsycARTICLES runs on the APA PsycNet platform.
Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text Selected highlights of crime and delinquency literature; Information review on crime and delinquency; Crime and deliquency literature; Criminal justice abstracts.
Education Research Complete Education Research Complete is a bibliographic and full text database covering scholarly research and information relating to all areas of education. Topics covered include all levels of education from early childhood to higher education, and all educational specialties, such as multilingual education, health education, and testing. Education Research Complete also covers areas of curriculum instruction as well as administration, policy, funding, and related social issues. The database provides indexing and abstracts for more than 1,500 journals, as well as full text for more than 750 journals. This database also includes full text for more than 100 books and monographs, and full text for numerous education-related conference papers.
PsycINFO PsycINFO, produced by the American Psychological Association, is a collection of electronically stored bibliographic references--most with abstracts or content summaries. It contains citations that PsycINFO has created in electronic form. Although the references themselves are all written in English, the covered literature includes material published in over 45 countries and written in 30 languages.Coverage: 1872-present
SocINDEX with Full Text SocINDEX with Full Text is the world's most comprehensive and highest quality sociology research database. The database features more than 1,910,000 records with subject headings from a 19,300 term sociological thesaurus designed by subject experts and expert lexicographers. SocINDEX with Full Text contains full text for 397 "core" coverage journals dating back to 1908, and 150 "priority" coverage journals. This database also includes full text for more than 720 books and monographs, and full text for 6,743 conference papers. Coverage: 1895 - present
Sociological Collection The database includes 615 full text titles covering all areas of sociology, including social behavior, human tendencies, interaction, relationships, community development, culture and social structure.

Abstracting & Indexing Databases

Scopus (Elsevier) A comprehensive, multidisciplinary abstract and citation database that includes literature from the social sciences, physical sciences, health sciences and life sciences. Search and filter relevant information, monitor research trends, track newly published research and identify subject experts. Use the analytics tools to visualize, compare and export the data. 
Web of Science Search the world’s leading scholarly journals, books, and proceedings in the sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities and navigate the full citation network.

Standards & Checklists

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) Statement has standards and checklists for systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and protocols.

JBI develops manuals, checklists, and critical appraisal tools. Critical appraisal tools help you screen your articles.

Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses || JBI

There are scholarly articles about writing systematic reviews and other forms of evidence synthesis. These can help guide you through the process!

A 24-step guide on how to design, conduct, and successfully publish a systematic review and meta-analysis in medical research
Muka, T., Glisic, M., Milic, J., Verhoog, S., Bohlius, J., Bramer, W., Chowdhury, R., & Franco, O. H. (2020). A 24-step guide on how to design, conduct, and successfully publish a systematic review and meta-analysis in medical research. European Journal of Epidemiology, 35(1), 49–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-019-00576-5
Check out their awesome 24-step flow chart
A step by step guide for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis with simulation data
Tawfik, G. M., Dila, K. A. S., Mohamed, M. Y. F., Tam, D. N. H., Kien, N. D., Ahmed, A. M., & Huy, N. T. (2019). A step by step guide for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis with simulation data. Tropical Medicine and Health, 47(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-019-0165-6
How to conduct a meta-analysis in eight steps: a practical guide
Hansen, C., Steinmetz, H., & Block, J. (2022). How to conduct a meta-analysis in eight steps: A practical guide. Management Review Quarterly, 72(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-021-00247-4

Selected Books & eBooks about Systematic Reviews

Systematic reviews in the social sciences: a practical guide by Mark Petticrew and Helen Roberts
Call Number: CECH Prof Ed H62 .P457 2006
ISBN: 9786610237906
Publication Date: 2006
Principles and Practice of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis by Sanjay Patole (Editor)
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9783030719203
Publication Date: 2021-06-27
Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences by Pranee Liamputtong (Editor)
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9789811052507
Publication Date: 2019-02-25
Doing Your Literature Review: traditional and systematic techniques by Jill Jesson; Lydia Matheson; Fiona M. Lacey
Call Number: CECH Prof Ed H62 .J46 2011
ISBN: 9781848601543
Publication Date: 2011-03-14
Systematic Reviews in Educational Research: Methodology, Perspectives and Application by Olaf Zawacki-Richter, Michael Kerres, Svenja Bedenlier, Melissa Bond, Katja Buntins
Call Number: eBook