Extracting information from selected studies
Steps for collecting and combining data include:
- Plan out your synthesis methods
- List all your data elements to be extracted
- Develop your data collection methods
- Develop your form and collect your data
- Complete your synthesis and explain your findings; tell your story
Three examples of a data extractions form are below:
- Data Extraction Form Example (suitable for small-scale literature review of a few dozen studies)
This example was used to gather data for a poster reporting a literature review of studies of interventions to increase Emergency Department throughput (view poster (PDF)). - Data Extraction Form for the Cochrane Review Group (uncoded & used to extract fine-detail/many variables) (PDF)
This is one example of a form, illustrating the thoroughness of the Cochrane research methodology. You could devise a simpler one page data extraction form for a more simple literature review. - Coded data extraction form (fillable form fields that can be computerized for data analysis) See Table 1 of Brown, Upchurch & Acton (2013)
Combining data in a table
There are various potential data collection tools that could be used to combine your data.
| Format | Examples |
|---|---|
| Paper forms | Microsoft Word, Google Docs, other word processors |
| Spreadsheets | Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets |
| Databases | Microsoft Access |
| Forms | Google Forms, Adobe Acrobat, Survey Monkey, FluidSurveys |
| Software | Distiller, Covidence, Systematic Review Data Repository |
Contact
For more information, please contact:
- Health Sciences
bibliorgnlibrary@uottawa.ca - Social Sciences
plabelle@uottawa.ca - Other subject areas
Contact your librarian
