Scoping review

How it is used

Used when researchers want an overview of available studies, concepts, and gaps rather than a narrow answer to one effect question.

Example sentences

1. Our scoping review showed that most studies on digital feedback focused on universities, with very little evidence from vocational schools.

   Here the term describes a broad review used to map where research exists and where important areas remain underexplored.

2. Before writing the grant proposal, the team conducted a scoping review to identify common measures and recurring gaps in the field.

   In this sentence, it means an initial mapping exercise that informs later project design rather than testing one precise claim.

Common collocations

• conduct a scoping review
• scoping review protocol
• scoping review findings
• scoping review methodology

Related terms

• literature reviewA critical summary of what has already been published on a topic, showing the main ideas, debates and gaps that a new study responds to.
• research gapA question, group, context or problem that existing studies have not yet addressed well, which a new study aims to fill.

More terms: Literature Review

• literature
• theoretical framework
• seminal
• synthesize
• draw on
• build on
• primary source
• secondary source
• systematic review
• database
• meta-analysis
• body of literature