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Scoping Review

There are several steps involved in the completion of a Scoping Review. The following guide to the Scoping Review process provides a summary of the key steps that are involved.

Select Studies

  • Import all search results into a reference manager (e.g., Zotero, EndNote Online or Mendeley). For more information on these referencing software packages see our Referencing Software guide.
  • Remove duplicates.
  • Screen titles and abstracts against your inclusion/exclusion criteria e.g. inclusion/ exclusion criteria might include language (e.g., English), study design, population, publication date etc.
  • For articles that seem relevant, retrieve and review the full text.
  • Record reasons for excluding studies during full-text review.
  • Ideally, you should have at least two subject expert reviewers independently screening material found. This will help you to avoid bias during your research.

Sample of Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Criteria Type Example Inclusion Criteria Example Exclusion Criteria
Population Studies involving university or college students Studies involving only high school or primary students
Concept Studies on online or distance learning methods Studies about traditional face-to-face learning only
Context Studies focused on mental health or psychological outcomes Studies focused on physical health outcomes only
Study Design Quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, reviews Opinion pieces, editorials, conference abstracts without full data
Language English-language publications Non-English publications (unless translation available)
Publication Date Studies published from 2010 to present

Studies from before 2010

Tip: Customize these based on your topic and scope. For example, if you want recent trends, restrict the publication date; if you want global coverage, include multiple languages.