Systematic Literature Review Automation Guide

Overview

Systematic Literature Reviews (SLRs) are rigorous, reproducible surveys of research evidence following protocols like PRISMA and Cochrane. This guide covers tools that automate the most time-consuming steps — deduplication, title/abstract screening, full-text assessment, and data extraction — using active learning, NLP, and AI agents. Key tools include ASReview, Rayyan, and custom pipelines.

SLR Pipeline

Protocol Definition (PICO, inclusion/exclusion criteria)
         ↓
   Database Search (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science)
         ↓
   Deduplication (ASReview, Rayyan, or custom)
         ↓
   Title/Abstract Screening (AI-assisted prioritization)
         ↓
   Full-text Assessment (relevance + quality)
         ↓
   Data Extraction (structured tables)
         ↓
   Quality Assessment (risk of bias)
         ↓
   Synthesis + PRISMA Report

ASReview (Active Learning)

bash
# Install ASReview
pip install asreview

# Launch web interface
asreview lab

# CLI screening
asreview simulate benchmark:van_de_Schoot_2017 \
  -m nb -e tfidf \
  --n_prior_included 5 --n_prior_excluded 5 \
  -o results/simulation.asreview

Python API

python
import asreview
from asreview import ASReviewData, ReviewSimulate

# Load dataset (RIS, CSV, or Excel)
data = ASReviewData.from_file("search_results.ris")
print(f"Records: {len(data)}")

# Active learning simulation
sim = ReviewSimulate(
    data,
    model="nb",              # Naive Bayes classifier
    feature_extraction="tfidf",
    query_strategy="max",     # Show most likely relevant first
    n_prior_included=5,
    n_prior_excluded=5,
)
sim.review()

# Results: screening order optimized by relevance
print(f"Work saved: {sim.work_saved():.1%}")
# Typically 80-95% of irrelevant papers screened out early

Deduplication

python
# ASReview deduplication
from asreview.data import ASReviewData

# Merge results from multiple databases
datasets = [
    ASReviewData.from_file("pubmed_results.ris"),
    ASReviewData.from_file("scopus_results.ris"),
    ASReviewData.from_file("wos_results.ris"),
]

merged = ASReviewData.from_dataframe(
    pd.concat([d.df for d in datasets])
)
print(f"Before dedup: {len(merged)}")

# Fuzzy matching on title + DOI
deduplicated = merged.deduplicate()
print(f"After dedup: {len(deduplicated)}")

AI-Assisted Screening

python
# Custom LLM screening pipeline
from slr_tools import LLMScreener

screener = LLMScreener(
    llm_provider="anthropic",
    criteria={
        "population": "Adults with type 2 diabetes",
        "intervention": "SGLT2 inhibitors",
        "outcomes": "Cardiovascular events",
        "study_types": ["RCT", "cohort", "meta-analysis"],
        "exclusions": ["animal studies", "in vitro", "pediatric"],
    },
)

# Screen abstracts
results = screener.screen_batch(
    records=search_results,
    fields=["title", "abstract"],
    threshold=0.5,  # Include if P(relevant) > 0.5
)

for r in results:
    print(f"[{'INCLUDE' if r.include else 'EXCLUDE'}] "
          f"(p={r.confidence:.2f}) {r.title[:60]}...")
    print(f"  Reason: {r.reason}")

Data Extraction

python
# Structured data extraction from full-text papers
from slr_tools import DataExtractor

extractor = DataExtractor(
    llm_provider="anthropic",
    schema={
        "study_design": "str",
        "sample_size": "int",
        "population_description": "str",
        "intervention_details": "str",
        "primary_outcome": "str",
        "effect_size": "float",
        "confidence_interval": "str",
        "p_value": "float",
        "follow_up_duration": "str",
        "risk_of_bias": "str",
    },
)

# Extract from PDF
extracted = extractor.extract("paper.pdf")
print(extracted.to_dict())

# Batch extraction
results_df = extractor.extract_batch("fulltext_papers/")
results_df.to_csv("extraction_table.csv")

PRISMA Flow Diagram

python
# Generate PRISMA 2020 flow diagram
from slr_tools import PRISMAFlow

flow = PRISMAFlow(
    identification={
        "databases": {"PubMed": 1200, "Scopus": 890, "WoS": 650},
        "other_sources": {"citation_search": 45},
    },
    screening={
        "after_dedup": 1850,
        "excluded_title_abstract": 1620,
        "sought_fulltext": 230,
        "not_retrieved": 12,
    },
    included={
        "assessed_fulltext": 218,
        "excluded_fulltext": {
            "wrong_population": 45,
            "wrong_intervention": 32,
            "wrong_outcome": 28,
            "wrong_study_type": 15,
        },
        "final_included": 98,
    },
)

flow.save_svg("prisma_flow.svg")
flow.save_latex("prisma_flow.tex")

Quality Assessment

python
# Risk of Bias assessment (Cochrane RoB 2)
from slr_tools import RiskOfBias

rob = RiskOfBias(tool="rob2")  # or "robins_i" for non-RCTs

assessment = rob.assess(
    paper="paper.pdf",
    domains=[
        "randomization_process",
        "deviations_from_intervention",
        "missing_outcome_data",
        "outcome_measurement",
        "selection_of_reported_result",
    ],
)

print(f"Overall: {assessment.overall_judgment}")
for domain, judgment in assessment.domain_judgments.items():
    print(f"  {domain}: {judgment}")

Use Cases

1. Medical SLRs: Cochrane-style evidence reviews
2. CS surveys: Comprehensive literature mapping
3. Policy reviews: Evidence synthesis for policy decisions
4. Thesis literature chapters: Structured review sections
5. Grant applications: Rapid evidence landscape scans

References

• ASReview — Active learning for systematic reviews
• PRISMA 2020 — Reporting guidelines
• Cochrane Handbook
• Rayyan — Collaborative screening platform