What component is usually included as part of a systematic review?

A systematic review is a comprehensive and structured approach to synthesizing research evidence on a specific topic. One of the key components of a systematic review is the meta-analysis. This process involves quantitatively combining results from multiple studies to arrive at a more robust conclusion than any single study could provide. By doing so, meta-analysis helps to resolve uncertainties when studies report conflicting results and increases the statistical power to detect effects by pooling data.

The strength of a systematic review is in its ability to provide an evidence-based summary that is more precise and reliable, largely due to the aggregation of data through meta-analysis. This ensures that the review draws upon a wider range of evidence, incorporating findings from various studies while employing rigorous methodologies to minimize bias. Other elements, like peer review and qualitative analysis, may contribute to a systematic review process but are not integral components in the same way that meta-analysis is. Individual case studies, while valuable for specific insights, do not typically fit within the framework of a systematic review, which aims for broader generalizations based on a larger body of evidence.