When “Fast” Beats “Perfect”

You need to write a literature review, but do you have 6 months or 6 weeks? Here’s how to decide.

I remember staring at my computer screen many nights in a row and struggling to select sources. The deadline for my literature review looming like a storm cloud on the dark horizon. My professor had thrown around terms like “systematic review” and “comprehensive search.” Honestly, I felt completely lost. I had a mountain of research papers to sift through, and the thought of spending the next months of my life chained to my desk reading filled me with dread. But was there another way?

Turns out, yes, there is. In academic research we don’t just do painstaking, year-long reviews that emphasize detailed quality assessment (called systematic reviews). There’s a faster, leaner option called a rapid review. But which one is right for you? How do you choose between speed and absolute certainty? That was what I had to find out.

There are actually 14 different types of literature reviews, according to a fascinating paper by Grant and Booth (2009). But for most people beginning their academic journey, the decision comes down to two main contenders:

Systematic Reviews

Think of these as the marathon runners of the research world. They’re exhaustive, meticulously planned, and take anywhere from 6 to 24 months to complete.

What they involve

• Formal protocols. As in, you have to make a plan and stick to it.
• Comprehensive searching. This means you need a strategy for selecting, searching, and excluding literature databases.
• Rigorous quality assessment. Not only do you usually assess the empirical work of the studies in the papers you collect, but you often also evaluate them for their validity and reliability.
• Tabular presentation. Often, you’ll meticulously organize these comparison results in tables.
• Narrative synthesis. You usually also provide a detailed summary of the evidence in a structured format that follows a logical flow to tell the story of the research findings.

Why choose this?

When you need absolute certainty. When the stakes are high, and you can’t afford to miss anything. If you’re setting up medical guidelines, for example, this is the way to go.

Rapid Reviews

These are the sprinters. They’re designed to provide quick insights in a matter of 1 to 6 months.

What they involve

• Flexible protocols. Not a lot is set in stone here and you can usually adjust the process as you go.
• Time-bound searching. The idea is that you focus on the most relevant sources within a specific timeframe that you set in advance.
• Limited quality checks. You only do a basic assessment, but not to the same depth as other review types.
• Evidence summary. You create a concise overview of the key findings. That’s it.

Why choose this?

When you need answers fast. If you’re a policymaker responding to an urgent issue, or a business leader making a time-sensitive decision, a rapid review can give you the information you need without the long wait.

The Bottom Line: Your Timeline Is Your Thing

Choosing between a systematic and rapid review isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about what fits your needs and resources.

Pick a systematic review when

• The highest level of quality and accuracy is essential.
• You need rock-solid, undeniable evidence.
• Time is not the primary constraint.

Pick a rapid review when

• Speed is of the essence.
• You need actionable insights quickly.
• “Good enough” evidence is sufficient for your purpose.

Don’t let academic writing bog you down. Your timeline is your guide for these things. Choose the review type that gets you the information you need, when you need it. Sometimes more is required, sometimes less is okay. And your research team and you make that decision.

Now, I know some of professors in the audience might be clutching their pearls at the thought of anything less than a fully systematic review. But in the real world, we often have to make decisions with incomplete information. Is a rapid review always ideal? No. But is it sometimes the best option? Absolutely.

Comprehensive Resources for Paid Subscribers

Here is my comprehensive list of search engines, academic databases, systematic review guidelines and software for meta analysis: