The Leatherby Libraries is excited to launch the Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis Service (SRESS)! Created to support Chapman University’s research mission, SRESS will support Chapman faculty, staff, researchers, and students with their systematic review and evidence synthesis projects.

Evidence synthesis means analyzing and combining multiple studies to understand a topic thoroughly. It is used across various fields such as medicine, policy making, health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, food safety, and conservation. Evidence synthesis aims to gather and combine all scholarly research on a topic, including published and unpublished studies. Systematic Reviews are the most common type of evidence synthesis and reviews, but other synthesis projects include scoping reviews, evidence maps, rapid reviews, umbrella reviews, and meta-analyses.

The Leatherby Libraries will offer two levels of support to meet researchers’ needs: Consultant and Co-Author. Each level is designed to cater to different needs and stages of the systematic review or evidence synthesis process.

Consultant Support

Consultant services offer support from a librarian who can step in at different points of the review project and assist with the following:

  • Provide comprehensive resources on the systematic review process and other evidence synthesis projects.
  • Suggest appropriate databases, protocol registration platforms, and citation management software.
  • Offer suggestions for refining search strategies, including troubleshooting specific issues.
  • Provide advice on the translation of the search strategy for different databases.
  • Provide advice on documenting search strategies, search results, and reporting of methods in the manuscript.

Co-Authoring Support

Co-authoring services offer more in-depth support from a librarian who will partner with you on your systematic review or evidence synthesis project. As a co-author, the librarian will offer support with the following:

  • Assist in selecting relevant databases and grey literature resources.
  • Write and translate search strategies for various databases.
  • Perform searches and export results to citation management software.
  • Comment on the protocol and write portions of the methods section specific to searching.
  • Perform de-duplication, train the team on the process, and advise on article screening software.

For more information about this service and to request a consultation, check out our Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis Service LibGuide or email the Director of Rinker Campus Library Services, Ivan Portillo, at iportillo@chapman.edu.