Systematic literature review for an effective research: a structured framework for social science researches

Systematic literature review (SLR) is increasingly becoming an essential part of modern research. Social science disciplines require a deep understanding of existing literatures to build well informed studies. This article provides a structured framework for students and research scholars in social science to conduct an effective SLR in their research works. It covers all key aspects and stages of the SLR process and follows a practical approach. The key aspects include the development of a search strategy, application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, quality assessment (QA) of studies, study selection and data extraction. Furthermore, it addresses results analysis, discussion of findings and drawing conclusions systematically. This SLR framework supports the researchers in the social science in building a solid foundation for their literature-based studies by promoting transparency and enhancing the quality of academic contributions.