Structured literature reviews: Building transparency and trust in standards of reporting evidence

An overview of the use of structured literature reviews to promote greater reliability when using and reporting on evidence in evaluations.

This resource examines the use of structured literature reviews (SLR) in evaluations, with the primary aim of enhancing transparency and fostering trust in the reporting and use of evidence. It presents an overview of diverse concepts and methodologies that researchers can employ to systematically condense evidence from bodies of literature.

The paper points out that SLRs are designed to offer a summary of the most impactful, innovative, and recent research pertaining to a specific topic, employing systematic procedures to identify and synthesise relevant studies.

A case study from the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) on the World Bank's Doing Business project is used to illustrate the point. The paper emphasizes the key lessons derived from the evaluation's approach to reporting evidence and provides reflective insights into the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of SLRs.