ZURb1239 Introduction to Systematic Literature Review

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Petra Pichaničová (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. David Šmahel, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Michal Tkaczyk, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Michal Tkaczyk, Ph.D.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Boris Rafailov, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
ZURb1114 Methodology of media research
ZURb1114 Metodologie mediálního výzkumu
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 35 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course is concerned with the creation of systematic review. It introduces the students to this type of study and familiarizes them with the individual steps necessary for the preparation of a review - from the formulation of a field-relevant question and the determination of the objectives of the review, through the methods of searching relevant literature, evaluating the findings of other studies and their synthesis, to the presentation of the results of the review in the form of an expert text. The course emphasizes the development of practical skills. - The aim of the course is to familiarize the students with the steps and procedures of creating a systematic review article.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- explain what a systematic review is, describe the basic features of this type of study and its functions;
- correctly formulate the review question and aims within given field of study;
- justify own methodological decisions related to the design of a sys review;
- conduct a systematic literature search and keep a record of it;
- evaluate the knowledge gained from the literature, assess its quality and apply it to answer the review questions;
- synthesise the knowledge gained from the studies included in the review;
- present the results of the review study according to principle of academic writing.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory lesson
  • 2. Systematic review essay - basic definition
  • 3. Planning a review and defining its scope
  • 4. Self-study
  • 5. Searching and identifying relevant literature
  • 6. Self-study
  • 7. Extracting and evaluating the knowledge gained
  • 8. Self-study
  • 9. Procedures for synthesizing results in a  systematic review study
  • 10. Self-study
  • 11. Teaching does not take place
  • 12. Systematic review essay as a academic text
  • 13. Self-study
Literature
    required literature
  • BOOTH, Andrew, Anthea SUTTON, Mark CLOWES and Marrissa MARTYN-ST JAMES. Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. Third edition. Los Angeles: Sage, 2022, xxxiii, 38. ISBN 9781529711844. info
  • JESSON, Jill, Lydia MATHESON and Fiona M. LACEY. Doing your literature review : traditional and systematic techniques. First published. Los Angeles: Sage, 2011, xi, 175. ISBN 9781848601543. info
  • PETTICREW, Mark and Helen ROBERTS. Systematic reviews in the social sciences : a practical guide. Oxford: Blackwell Pub., 2006, xv, 336. ISBN 1405121114. URL info
Teaching methods
Teaching methods in the class include lectures and discussion. Students' independent work involves systematic and critical reading of academic literature, skills development.
Assessment methods
The course is completed with fulfilling requirements which are:
1. Attendance in seminars (it is possible to be absent from 1 class without giving a reason.
2. Submission of 6 continuous assignments. At least half of the points for each of the five interim assignments must be obtained to fulfil course requirements
3. Submit and score at least 30 points on the final assignment.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/ZURb1239