22. Narrative vs Systematic Literature Reviews

About this lesson

Narrative and Systematic Reviews | Module 2.8: Types of Literature Reviews to Part 1 Welcome to Module 2.8 of the Research Ethics Foundations series! In this video, we introduce and compare two of the most common types of literature reviews: narrative reviews and systematic reviews. Understanding the differences in methodology, application, and rigor is essential for choosing the right approach for your academic or clinical research.

What You’ll Learn in This Module

• Key features of narrative literature reviews
• The structured process behind systematic reviews
• Differences in purpose, rigor, and transparency
• Strengths and limitations of each approach
• How to choose the right type of review for your research question

Core Topics Covered

Narrative Literature Reviews

• Qualitative synthesis
• Broad and flexible scope
• Expert-driven interpretation
• Common in conceptual and theoretical papers

Systematic Reviews

• Structured, transparent methodology
• Defined inclusion/exclusion criteria
• Quality assessment of studies
• Follows PRISMA reporting standards
• Ideal for evidence-based practice

Comparing Review Types

• Methodological rigor
• Time and resource demands
• Best-fit scenarios for each review type
• Bias and reproducibility considerations

Who Should Watch This Video

• Undergraduate and graduate students
• Thesis and dissertation writers
• Health and social science researchers
• Systematic review teams
• Educators and academic mentors

Lesson notes

Full written notes for this lesson are in production. Until they publish, watch the video above and use the summary on this page as your study guide.