The Systematic Review Question & Scope Template
A structured, decision-led workflow that moves you from a vague topic to a defensible review scope — before you touch a database.
Most systematic reviews don’t fail in the screening or the synthesis. They fail in week one — because the question was never built to survive contact with real evidence. This template is the tool I give my own PhD students at the start of a review. It walks you through the decisions you can’t afford to skip: who the evidence is for, what’s in scope and what isn’t, and how to log every scope change so your review holds up under peer review.
Most systematic review scopes
fail before the first search
Most systematic review scopes fail before the first search
Vague Boundaries
Starting with a broad topic instead of a precise, answerable question.
Unclear Audience
Gathering evidence without knowing exactly who needs it to make decisions.
Wrong Review Type
Forcing a systematic review when a scoping or rapid review was needed.
Poor Documentation
Failing to log scope changes, leaving the review vulnerable to peer-review rejection.
The exact thinking tool Dr Dee
uses with her Masters students,
lecturers & NGO analysts
The exact thinking tool Dr Dee uses with her Masters students lecturers & NGO analysts
A proven framework to build a bulletproof review foundation.
- Masters and postgraduate students doing a systematic review
- Lecturers looking for reusable teaching material
- NGO and policy analysts building evidence for decisions
- Researchers and postdocs from research institutes and universities
Trusted by Masters students, lecturers & NGO analysts worldwide
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and defensible qualitative research methods.
Join a growing community of researchers committed to rigorous, transparent, and defensible qualitative research methods.
What's inside the template
Decision-Context Worksheet
Clarifies who your review is actually for and what decisions it will inform.
Scope Boundaries Table
Clearly defines what’s in, what’s out, and the explicit reason for each boundary.
Review-Type Matrix
Helps you choose between systematic, scoping, rapid, realist, or living reviews.
Fully Worked Example
See the framework applied to a real-world global health research question.
Scope Decision Log
A tracking system to protect you against peer-review challenges later.
Pre-Flight Checklist
The final checks you must pass before you move on to developing your PICOTS.
SERIES 1 OF 2
Part of the 'Systematic Reviews,
from Confusion to Clarity' Series
Part of the
'Systematic Reviews,
from Confusion to Clarity' Series
Episode 1 of 12. As part of the series, you'll receive the companion template for each new
episode as it's released — 12 templates in total across two series. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
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Review Question & Scope Template
Yes, I want the free Systematic Review Question & Scope Template
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