Systematic reviews

Steps for collecting and combining data include:

1. Plan out your synthesis methods
2. List all your data elements to be extracted
3. Develop your data collection methods
4. Develop your form and collect your data
5. 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)

There are various potential data collection tools that could be used to combine your data.