What type of criteria is utilized to select studies for review in systematic reviews?

In systematic reviews, the use of inclusion and exclusion criteria is essential for ensuring that the studies selected for review are relevant to the research question and meet specific standards necessary for the analysis. Inclusion criteria are the predetermined characteristics that studies must possess to be considered for the review, such as study design, population characteristics, intervention specifics, or specific outcomes measured. Exclusion criteria, on the other hand, outline the characteristics that disqualify studies from being included, which helps to eliminate any research that may introduce bias or is not applicable to the review's focus.

This approach ensures that the data analyzed is homogenous enough to derive meaningful conclusions and that the overall quality of evidence is sound. By filtering studies through these criteria, systematic reviews can produce more reliable and valid findings that can ultimately inform practice and policy effectively.

The other options, while related to aspects of study selection, do not accurately capture the specific terminology and purpose of study selection criteria in systematic reviews. Quality and relevance criteria, for example, are components considered but are not the standard terminology used in the context of systematic reviews as inclusion and exclusion criteria are.