Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses

A protocol describes the rationale, hypothesis, and planned methods of the systematic review. It is created before data collection or analysis begins. Detailed protocols should be made publicly available and registered (maintained as a permanent record) in a registry. (See below for a list of registries by subject)

Note: A protocol is required to be elligible for Tier Two of the Systematic Review Service at Princeton. 

Evidence Synthesis Protocol Template (General)

• This document is based on the PRISMA Statement (evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses) extensions for systematic review protocols and scoping reviews, and materials developed by The Campbell Collaboration.
• Ghezzi-Kopel, K., & Porciello, J. (2021, August 5). Evidence Synthesis Protocol Template. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ZWD6N 

PRISMA for systematic review Protocols (PRISMA-P)

• The PRISMA-P extension was published in 2015 aiming to facilitate the development and reporting of systematic review protocols.

NIRO-SR (Non-Intervention, Reproducible, and Open Systematic Reviews)

• Guidelines for creating and pre-registering your protocol as well as writing your systematic review for non-interventional research.
• Recommended for systematic reviews that do not use a PICO (or similar structure)
• Topor, M., Pickering, J. S., Barbosa Mendes, A., Bishop, D. V. M., Büttner, F. C., Elsherif, M. M., … Westwood, S. J. (2022, October 17). Non-Interventional, Reproducible, and Open Systematic Review (NIRO-SR) guidelines. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/F3BRW 

General

• OSF Registries 

A general repository for all protocols and registrations regardless of discipline or research area. 

Education & Social Sciences

• Campbell Collaboration

  There are 3 stages in the production of a Campbell review: title registration, protocol development and registration, and publication of the systematic review. The editorial process is managed the Managing Editor of a Campbell Coordinating Group: Aging, Business & Management, Children & Young Persons Wellbeing, Climate Solutions, Crime & Justice, Education, International Development, Knowledge Translation & Implementation, Methods, Social Welfare, and Training

Health & Medical Sciences

• PROSPERO

  International database of prospectively registered systematic reviews in health and social care, welfare, public health, education, crime, justice, and international development, where there is a health-related outcome. It is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in the U.K. Cochrane protocols are automatically added to this database.

• Cochrane Library

  Database of Cochrane protocols, reviews, and controlled trials in health care and health policy. Protocols contain information that defines the health problem and the intervention under investigation, how benefits and harms will be measured, and the type of appropriate study design. The protocol also outlines the process for identifying, assessing, and summarizing studies in the review.

• Joanna Briggs Institute

  Based at the University of Adelaide, South Australia, JBI provides access to protocols and reviews in healthcare. This register is for the use of JBI affiliated entities ONLY. Registration of a systematic review title on the JBI website is to promote collaboration between affiliated entities via highlighting current work to other JBI review authors and to recognize that the registered topic is currently in development to avoid any unintended and/or unnecessary duplication of research effort.