Scoping Review

        Scoping review is a review method that aims to map the key concepts related to a broader topic briefly. Scoping reviews are more topic-based and mapping reviews are more question-based. 

        Grant and Booth (2009), Scoping reviews are "preliminary assessment of potential size and scope of available research literature.  Aims to identify nature and extent of research evidence (usually including ongoing research)." 

        Scoping reviews are different from systematic reviews in their broad approach to a topic, purposive sampling frame, and identification of gaps in the literature. Scoping review can inform policymakers as to whether a full systematic review is required. They share some of the characteristics of systematic reviews in trying to be systematic, transparent, and replicable.

        How to analyze literature using scoping review by searching the literature on quantity and quality characteristics literature, perhaps by studying design and other key characteristics.

        the methodological framework for writing a scoping review is:

        (1) identifying the research question,

        (2) identifying relevant studies, 

        (3) study selection, 

        (4) charting the data, 

        (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results, 

        (6) an optional consultation exercise 

         Example Paper Scoping Review:  Weeks, L. C. & Strudsholm, T. A scoping review of research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the mass media: looking back, moving forward. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2008, 19(8), 43.

        Scoping reviews generally cannot be viewed as a full-fledged end result, primarily due to limitations in their rigor and time limits, which means they have the potential for bias. In particular, they generally do not include a quality assessment process. There is accordingly a peril that the presence of concentrates instead of their inborn quality is utilized as a basis for conclusions. therefore, their findings cannot be used to recommend policy/practice.

Source:

        Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health information & libraries journal, 26(2), 91-108.

        M. T. Pham, A. Rajić, J. D. Greig, J. M. Sargeant, A. Papadopoulos, and S. A. Mcewen, “A scoping review of scoping reviews: Advancing the approach and enhancing the consistency,” Res. Synth. Methods, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 371–385, 2014