Word Count : 1250 words
The aim of this assignment is to provide you with some experience of conducting a
systematic search, without requiring you to do a full systematic review. The task is to
take a systematic approach to exploring the quantity and quality of literature available in
a given area, and use this to provide a summary of current knowledge and rationale of
where and what more research may be needed. The focus of the assignment is on
synthesising a lot of information into a brief and focussed summary report.
Provide a report of your search, using the headings that are underlined below:
RATIONALE (250 words)
· Provide a rationale for why this population is important to study, supported by
research evidence.
· Provide a clear and succinct aim for the focus of your review, stating accurately
what your scoping review aims to achieve.
SEARCH STRATEGY (250 words)
· Set out the;
o search terms and database you will use,
o inclusion and exclusion criteria you will apply,
o account of how you will judge study quality.
· To make this review manageable, you can consider;
o restricting your search dates to just a few years,
o searching fewer databases than published studies,
o restricting your focus.
· You can use bullet points, as long as the language is coherent
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS (750 words)
· Reflection on the search approach: Critically report on how the search strategy
performed in terms of its specificity and scale. Report how you refined your search terms
and criteria to obtain a manageable set of appropriate papers (i.e., to be sure you got
most of the right papers, and not too many irrelevant papers).
· Data quality: Provide an overview of the quality of research in this area, taken as a
whole. Articulating what you looked at to establish quality, and a few examples to
illustrate your findings can help to put your message across (e.g., strengths and
weaknesses).
· Key findings: What are the key points that we should take from the literature,
which you consider to be reliable and well supported by evidence? What areas warrant
further research? Does the body of work challenge any of our previous assumptions?
Assessment criteria
1. Demonstrate the ability to provide a balanced critical analysis of research
2. Provide clear aims that match the search strategy and inclusion decisions of a scoping review
3. Demonstrate the ability to critically assess research quality
4. Offer insightful conclusions which summarise the current state of evidence in a given area
5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate the result of an advanced research exercise in a clear and succinct report.