name: systematic-review description: Guidance for conducting PhD-level systematic literature reviews according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) standards. Covers protocol development, search string optimization, screening processes, and data extraction. metadata: short-description: Systematic Review Protocol (PRISMA)

Systematic Review Protocol (PRISMA)

This skill provides a structured framework for conducting a systematic review that meets the highest academic standards.

1. Protocol Development (PROSPERO style)

A rigorous review starts with a pre-registered protocol defining:

• PICO(S): Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, Study Design.
• Inclusion/Exclusion: Clear criteria to minimize bias.

2. Search Strategy Optimization

• Boolean Logic: Use complex nested queries.
• Academic Filters: site:arxiv.org, site:nature.com, PubMed IDs, etc.
• Snowballing: Backward and forward citation tracing.

3. Screening Process

• Title/Abstract Screening: High-level relevance check.
• Full-Text Review: Detailed assessment against inclusion criteria.
• Conflict Resolution: How to handle disagreements (e.g., third-party reviewer).

4. Data Extraction & Quality Assessment

• Extraction Tables: Author, Year, Sample, Method, Key Results.
• Risk of Bias (RoB): Use tools like Cochrane RoB or Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

5. Synthesis & Reporting (PRISMA)

• Flow Diagram: Transparently showing source selection.
• Thematic Synthesis: Organizing findings into actionable themes.

Ready to start? Provide your research question or draft protocol for refinement.