Microcredential ekomex Systematic Literature Reviews

Designed for social science researchers, this two-day online course offers hands-on training in planning and executing systematic literature reviews, combining transparent methods with tools like ASreview for streamlined study selection.

What Is This Course About?
This intensive 8-hour online course introduces participants to the core principles and practical steps involved in planning, conducting, and reporting high-quality systematic literature reviews. Combining lectures with interactive exercises and hands-on activities, the course provides practical skills in formulating research questions, designing comprehensive search strategies, assessing study quality, synthesising findings, and reporting results. Participants will be guided through the entire review process - from protocol development to evidence synthesis - using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Key topics include database searching, study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, synthesis techniques, and the use of reporting guidelines such as PRISMA. The course also includes an introduction to ASreview, an open-source tool for machine-learning-assisted study selection, offering a practical demonstration of how artificial intelligence can support evidence synthesis. The course also highlights common pitfalls and strategies to enhance review quality and transparency.

Learning Goals

• Formulate structured research questions using established frameworks (e.g., PICO, SPIDER, PCC).
• Design and execute transparent search strategies across multiple databases.
• Apply rigorous screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal procedures.
• Synthesise evidence using narrative, thematic, or quantitative methods (e.g., meta-analysis).
• Report findings in line with PRISMA guidelines and explore AI-assisted tools like ASreview.

Recommended Readings for the Course

• Petticrew, M., & Roberts, H. (2006). Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide. Blackwell Publishing.
• Boland, A., Cherry, G., & Dickson, R. (Eds.). (2017). Doing a Systematic Review: A Student's Guide. SAGE Publications.
• Davis, J., Mengersen, K., Bennett, S., & Mazerolle, L. (2014). Viewing systematic reviews and meta-analysis in social research through different lenses. SpringerPlus, 3, 511. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-511.

Assignments for the Course

• Daily practice tasks (ungraded).
• Final take-home paper.

Schedule

• 90’ asynchronous materials
• 90’ synchronous lab
• 60’ independent small group learning
• 60’ office hour

Who Is Your Instructor?
Liliana Abreu, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher in the Development Research Group at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Konstanz (Germany), where she has been based since 2019. She holds a PhD in Public Health from the Medical School of the University of Porto, Portugal. Her research focuses on preventing violence against children, women, and vulnerable populations, and promoting sustainable, evidence-based mental health interventions. With a strong background in interdisciplinary projects, Dr Abreu works across the fields of global health, behavioural sciences, and public policy, with a particular emphasis on trauma, gender equality, and health literacy. She has extensive experience in designing and implementing rigorous study protocols and systematic reviews for complex public health interventions.