Abstract
Recent years have seen the growing use of systematic literature reviews
within the social sciences. Despite some reservations over the adoption of
an approach originally popularised within clinical and health sciences the
literature in the area has contributed some clear benefits to accounts of
existing research. It is surprising, therefore, that political scientists have
tended to ignore, or at best marginalise reviews of this kind.
This paper outlines a number of features of systematic reviews which might
be suitable for the kinds of questions political scientists ask of their data.
Throughout, it highlights both the value and the potential complications of
the approach, raising a number of questions which should be considered if
systematic reviews are to be more widely adopted.
within the social sciences. Despite some reservations over the adoption of
an approach originally popularised within clinical and health sciences the
literature in the area has contributed some clear benefits to accounts of
existing research. It is surprising, therefore, that political scientists have
tended to ignore, or at best marginalise reviews of this kind.
This paper outlines a number of features of systematic reviews which might
be suitable for the kinds of questions political scientists ask of their data.
Throughout, it highlights both the value and the potential complications of
the approach, raising a number of questions which should be considered if
systematic reviews are to be more widely adopted.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Political studies review |
| Early online date | 2 Feb 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 5 May 2018 |