Search

The first's stages of a research require an analysis of extensive information of the literature related with the research project. We focus our proposal on the management of the information on these cases and also we use an evidence based approach to assure a level of quality within the gathered information. Literature reviews fall into two broad areas, scoping and targeted reviews. Scoping reviews use literature to identify questions to answer and possible solutions to use. Targeted reviews evaluate specific solutions to specific problems by combining data from multiple primary studies. The primary role of scoping reviews is to ensure that the following work has purpose and is a beneficial contribution to world knowledge. Evidence-based science is a broad collection of techniques aimed at improving the quality of research. It includes systematic review as a key element. Systematic review is the current gold standard for conducting a targeted literature review; it is used frequently in many fields from medicine to public policy and latterly software engineering. In this paper we investigate using many of the premises of systematic review and evidence based science in the production of scoping reviews. We argue that using an evidence-based approach to performing scoping review increases repeatability, reduces bias, improves the rigour and adds visible quality to the research. This paper discusses an evidence based approach to conducting a scoping study. The paper highlights the key aspects of the processes. Software tools to perform some of the steps, improving time efficiency and reducing human error are identified and prototyped. Finally, this paper presents a protocol for developing a scoping review developed from our experiences and based in the previously available evidence based publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]