What type of review should I conduct?
Answer
It can be tricky to decide which type of review you should conduct based on your research question. First, familiarize yourself with the different types of reviews, and think about your goals. Do you have the capacity and interest in synthesizing and potentially appraising evidence? Then you might want to consider a knowledge synthesis review (systematic review, scoping review, umbrella review, etc.). If you have minimal time and do not need to be comprehensive in how you search and collate evidence, then consider a literature review or a narrative review. Also read our FAQ sections, "What's the difference between a systematic review and a scoping review?" and "What's the difference between a narrative review, a literature review, and a knowledge synthesis?".
A handy tool is the What Review is Right for You? quiz. Context is important to consider as well. Do you have to write a review for a course assignment? Are you applying for a grant and are required to be comprehensive in your research? Are you trying to answer a question that will inform policy or practice? These questions will help guide you to the most appropriate type of review for your topic.
You can also take a look at LitR-Ex's guide on 8 different literature review methodologies.