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77489-01 - Seminar: A Best Practice Course for Conducting Systematic and Scoping Reviews in Psychology (1 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Robin Segerer (robin.segerer@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This two-day course on systematic and scoping reviews for psychology PhD students introduces the essential steps of conducting a systematic review in the psychological sciences. Systematic and scoping reviews involve a comprehensive, transparent search to identify all relevant studies on a defined topic, followed by the structured synthesis and critical appraisal of those studies in relation to a specific research question. Participants will learn how to develop effective search strategies, select appropriate databases and search tools, and construct search strings using controlled vocabularies (e.g., MeSH, APA Thesaurus) and Boolean operators. They will test and refine their strategies, set up automatic alerts, and manage references by exporting and deduplicating results efficiently. To ensure transparency and reproducibility, we will introduce pre-registration options such as PROSPERO and OSF. Participants will also learn how to evaluate the methodological quality and risk of bias in the included studies, and how to synthesize both qualitative and quantitative evidence using appropriate techniques. A special focus will be placed on the use of AI-assisted tools in the systematic review process. This includes Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)-based platforms such as Consensus and Scite to accelerate evidence discovery and evaluation. In addition, research mapping tools (e.g., Connected Papers, ResearchRabbit) will be introduced to help visualize the structure of the literature and identify gaps or clusters. Throughout the course, participants will explore software solutions that support search strategy development, streamline the screening process (e.g., Rayyan, ASReview), and assist in scientific writing and synthesis. The course includes hands-on exercises, demonstrations, and individual feedback to support participants in applying these techniques to their own research topics. |
| Learning objectives | 1. Understand the role and methodology of systematic and scoping reviews in psychology. Explain the rationale, structure, and methodological foundations of systematic reviews. Distinguish systematic reviews from other review types in terms of transparency, rigor, and reproducibil-ity. 2. Formulate focused and structured research questions. Apply frameworks such as PICO, SPIDER, or PECO to derive answerable questions for systematic evidence synthesis. 3.Design comprehensive and reproducible search strategies. Select suitable databases and platforms relevant to psychology (e.g., PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science). Construct and translate search strings using Boolean logic, truncation, phrase searching, and con-trolled vocabularies (e.g., MeSH, APA Thesaurus). Apply citation tracking (backward and forward) to expand search coverage. 4. Utilize AI and research mapping tools to optimize evidence discovery. Use Consensus and Scite for AI-supported evidence ranking, claim extraction, and contextualization. Apply Connected Papers and ResearchRabbit to visualize research networks and identify key papers and clusters. 5. Organize and manage references effectively. Export and deduplicate references using tools such as Zotero, EndNote, or built-in functions in Rayyan, Covidence, or Catchii. Set up auto alerts for ongoing literature monitoring. Document the entire search process in accordance with PRISMA and review protocol standards. 6. Pre-register the review to enhance transparency. Recognize the importance of protocol registration. Create and submit a pre-registered protocol using platforms such as PROSPERO or OSF. 7. Screen and select studies systematically. Apply predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria consistently during screening. Use screening tools such as Rayyan, Covidence, and Catchii to structure and accelerate title, abstract, and full-text screening. 8. Assess the quality and risk of bias of included studies. Use tools such as ROB2, ROBINS-I, or CASP to critically appraise the methodological quality of studies. Integrate these assessments into evidence synthesis and interpretation. 9.Synthesize findings across study types Differentiate between and apply strategies for narrative synthesis, meta-analysis, or mixed-methods synthesis depending on study characteristics. 10.Apply digital and AI-based tools throughout the workflow Combine traditional reference and screening tools with AI-powered assistants for efficient, reproducible review practices. Evaluate the ethical and methodological implications of automation and AI integration in systematic reviews. 11.Transfer acquired competencies to own research projects Apply all stages of the systematic review process to a self-defined research question. Benefit from hands-on exercises and individual feedback to ensure practical skill development and conceptual understanding. |
| Bibliography | Siddaway, A. P., Wood, A. M., & Hedges, L. V. (2019). How to do a systematic review: a best practice guide for conducting and reporting narrative reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses. Annual review of psychology, 70(1), 747-770. |
| Comments | MO 6.10.25 und DI 7.10.25. |
| Admission requirements | The workshop is offered by the doctoral program Health & Interventions (HI-PSY) and counts towards the research method curriculum area of the PhD program HI-PSY. PhD students who are not part of the doctoral program HI-PSY please apply for admission to the workshop before course registration by sending an e-mail to the program director Prof. Dr. Jens Gaab (jens.gaab@unibas.ch). |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
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No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Doctorate Psychology: Recommendations (PhD subject: Psychology) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | To successfully complete the course, participants must translate their own research question into a structured, database-ready search string. This includes the use of appropriate Boolean logic, controlled vocabularies (e.g., MeSH, APA Thesaurus), and syntax tailored to at least one major database such as PsycINFO or PubMed. The search string must be tested, refined, and clearly documented in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. This documentation will serve as the foundation for the participant’s own systematic review and demonstrate their ability to apply core competencies acquired in the course. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Psychology, studiendekanat-psychologie@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Psychology |