Ask Us! National University Library

The difference between literature review and systematic review comes back to the initial research question. Whereas the systematic review is very specific and focused, the standard literature review is much more general. The components of a literature review, for example, are similar to any other research paper.

Meanwhile, whereas a systematic review can include several research studies to answer a specific question, typically a meta analysis includes a comparison of different studies to suss out any inconsistencies or discrepancies. 

- Elsevier 

Learn more:

• NU Library Guide to Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses 
• Systematic Literature Review or Literature Review | Elsevier. (2022, March 18). Elsevier Author Services - Articles. 
• Systematic Review VS Meta-Analysis | Elsevier Blog. (2020, April 8). Elsevier Author Services - Articles.
• SAGE Research Methods has several ebooks and video tutorials on systematic or literature reviews. 
• Cochrane Library includes a large collection of systematic reviews on physical and mental health topics.
• Many health research databases, including CINAHL or PubMed, have the option to restrict your results to systematic reviews only. Look for a "methodology" or "article type" option to the left of your results list.