Systematic Reviews

Episode Description

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Karen Schucan Bird about systematic reviews. Karen tells us about different types of systematic reviews, the benefits, challenges and why you should ideally do them in a team. She tells us about how her research team collaborated with different stakeholders such as victim-survivors and support organisations when doing a systematic review on domestic abuse interventions. The speaker’s insights offer a great introduction for persons wanting to use this methodology in different fields of social sciences. 

Readings recommended by Karen Schucan Bird

Gough, D., Thomas, J., & Oliver, S. (2017). An introduction to systematic reviews (Sage)

Gough, D., Oliver, S. & Thomas, J. (2013). Learning from Research: Systematic Reviews for Informing Policy Decisions: A Quick Guide. A paper for the Alliance for Useful Evidence. London: Nesta. Retrieved from https://apo.org.au/node/71119

Tricco AC, Langlois EV, Straus SE, editors. Rapid reviews to strengthen health policy and systems: a practical guide. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Schucan Bird, K. L., Stokes, N., & Rivas, C. (2025). Interventions for Improving Informal Social Support for Victim‐Survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse: An Evidence and Gap Map. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 21(2), e70026.

Schucan Bird, K., Stokes, N., & Rivas, C. (2024). Enabling Workplace and Community Responses to Domestic Abuse: A Mixed Method Systematic Review of Training for Informal Supporters. Health & Social Care in the Community, 2024(1), 3965227.