PRC Literature Review & Synthesis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of literature review uses explicit, reproducible methods to minimize bias in study selection and data extraction?
- Narrative review
- Systematic review (Correct answer)
- Scoping review
- Integrative review
Correct answer: Systematic review
Systematic reviews follow a predefined protocol with explicit, reproducible search and selection criteria designed to minimize bias.
Question 2: When synthesizing qualitative and quantitative studies in a single review, researchers are conducting what type of synthesis?
- Meta-analysis
- Mixed-methods synthesis (Correct answer)
- Bibliometric analysis
- Content analysis
Correct answer: Mixed-methods synthesis
Mixed-methods synthesis integrates findings from both qualitative and quantitative studies into a unified interpretation.
Question 3: A PICO framework is primarily used in literature reviews to formulate what?
- Database search strings
- Research questions (Correct answer)
- Inclusion criteria
- Citation formats
Correct answer: Research questions
PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) is a structured framework for formulating focused clinical or research questions.
Question 4: Which statistical technique combines effect sizes from multiple independent studies to produce a single overall estimate?
- Regression analysis
- Meta-analysis (Correct answer)
- Content analysis
- Thematic analysis
Correct answer: Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis is a quantitative method that pools effect sizes from multiple studies to calculate a weighted overall effect.
Question 5: The degree to which findings from multiple studies can be compared and combined is referred to as:
- Reliability
- Homogeneity
- Commensurability (Correct answer)
- Triangulation
Correct answer: Commensurability
Commensurability refers to the extent to which studies are similar enough in design, population, and measures to allow meaningful comparison and synthesis.
Question 6: In a systematic review, a PRISMA flow diagram is used to:
- Illustrate the theoretical framework
- Document the screening and selection process (Correct answer)
- Display statistical meta-analysis results
- Map conceptual relationships between studies
Correct answer: Document the screening and selection process
PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagrams document how many records were identified, screened, and included or excluded.
Question 7: Which term describes the tendency for journals to publish studies with positive or significant results more than null or negative findings?
- Confirmation bias
- Publication bias (Correct answer)
- Reporting bias
- Selection bias
Correct answer: Publication bias
Publication bias occurs when studies with statistically significant or favorable results are more likely to be published than those with null findings.
PRC Literature Review & Synthesis 2
Which type of literature review uses explicit, reproducible methods to minimize bias in study selection and data extraction?