SOIL SCI 875: Systematic Reviews in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (Spring 2024) : Write and Register a Protocol
Why register a protocol?
- "Why prospective registration of systematic reviews makes sense" (editorial)Lesley Stewart, David Moher and Paul Shekelle
Systematic Reviews 2012 1:7
Abstract: Prospective registration of systematic reviews promotes transparency, helps reduce potential for bias and serves to avoid unintended duplication of reviews. Registration offers advantages to many stakeholders in return for modest additional effort from the researchers registering their reviews.
Checklists of Reporting Standards by Discipline (forms, flow diagrams)
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Inclusion and exclusion criteria set the boundaries for the systematic review. They are determined after setting the research question and usually before the search is conducted, however scoping searches may need to be undertaken in order to determine appropriate criteria. Many different factors can be used as inclusion or exclusion criteria. Information about the inclusion and exclusion criteria is recorded as a paragraph or table within the methods section of the systematic review.
Guide to Systematic Review Tools and Services, University of Melbourne Libraries
https://unimelb.libguides.com/sysrev/inclusion-exclusion-criteria
Registries
- PROCEEDGlobal, open-access database of prospectively registered evidence reviews and syntheses in the environmental sector.
Example Protocols
As you prepare to write your protocol, it may be helpful to review others. Here are two protocols published in Environmental Evidence.
- Coates, J., Bostick, K.J., Jones, B.A. et al. What is the impact of aminoglycoside exposure on soil and plant root-associated microbiota? A systematic review protocol. Environ Evid 11, 18 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-022-00274-y
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Bekchanova, M., Campion, L., Bruns, S. et al. Biochar’s effect on the ecosystem services provided by sandy-textured and contaminated sandy soils: a systematic review protocol. Environ Evid 10, 7 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-021-00223-1
See also, current protocols registered on PROCEED (open access registry for prospective evidence syntheses in the environmental sector).