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Identify a target journal before you begin your review. If you know where you want to publish, you can follow their requirements from the very beginning.
The key to a publishable review is good planning and organization from the very beginning. It is helpful to meet with a librarian before you begin your review to learn more about the resources and strategies available to help you get and stay organized through the process.
You will inevitably save yourself time and many headaches throughout the process by documenting everything! Decide to add or remove a key term from your search strategy? Document that you did and why. Which person performed each step in the process? What decisions were made along the way? You may not need these notes, but it is much better to have them and not need them than it is to need them and not have them during peer review of your article.
Welcome to UNL Libraries LibGuide to Scoping Reviews!
This LibGuide is part of the Advanced Reviews series, and provides guidance and resources for conducting scoping reviews.
A Scoping Review is one of many evidence synthesis methodologies. Similar to a Systematic Review, a Scoping Review requires a systematic search strategy and clear, structured reporting. Unlike a Systematic Review, a Scoping Review is exploratory in nature and answers a broad research question designed to assess the extent of the existing research. Often there is little to no data analysis and usually no risk of bias performed in a scoping review.
The official definition developed by the JBI Scoping Reviews Methodology Group says:
"Scoping reviews are a type of evidence synthesis that aims to systematically identify and map the breadth of evidence available on a particular topic, field, concept, or issue, often irrespective of source (ie, primary research, reviews, non-empirical evidence) within or across particular contexts. Scoping reviews can clarify key concepts/definitions in the literature and identify key characteristics or factors related to a concept, including those related to methodological research."
According to Arksey & O'Malley, who wrote the seminal work on Scoping Reviews, this particular methodology serves 4 primary purposes
How do you know which to choose for your project? This video can help.
Learn more about the different types of reviews:
It is also important to note the limitations inherent in scoping review methodology both as you plan your project and in your published paper. Here are a few to consider:
Elle Covington (they/them), Assistant Professor Research Specialist Librarian, UNL Libraries, originally published 10/10/23