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Table 4.2 Research question development

From: Guidance to best tools and practices for systematic reviews

Acronym

Meaning

FINERa

F feasible, I interesting, N novel, E ethical, and R relevant

SMARTb

S specific, M measurable, A attainable, R relevant, T timely

TOPICS + Mc

T time, O outcomes, P population, I intervention, C context, S study design, plus M (effect) moderators

  1. aCummings SR, Browner WS, Hulley SB. Conceiving the research question and developing the study plan. In: Hulley SB, Cummings SR, Browner WS, editors. Designing clinical research: an epidemiological approach; 4th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007. p. 14–22
  2. bDoran, GT. There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives. Manage Rev. 1981;70:35-6.
  3. cJohnson BT, Hennessy EA. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the health sciences: best practice methods for research syntheses. Soc Sci Med. 2019;233:237–51