3.4 Step 4: Practically screen your organized literature in accordance with step 3 above
Executing this guide implies that author(s) would need to appraise all potential papers to be included for full review (Okoli, 2015a). This takes place after protocol and getting participating authors on the same understanding on all the requirements of the studies (Fink, 2019) based on their inclusion and exclusion criteria set above in step 3. Arguably, this step determines the quality of the review study to be conducted. To achieve this, authors would need to adhere to protocols and ensure that all authors strictly follow through. An important outcome from this guide is “screened down” potential paper that are most likely to be included. It is important to note here that the outcome of this exercise does not seal the faith of paper that met the initial elimination criteria. A further screening would need to be conducted when authors provide further clarification around potential papers on why they should be included or not be included at all. Some of the fundamental criteria suggested by Fink (2019) to include content (topics or variables), publication language, journal, authors, study setting, participants or subjects, research design or sampling methodology, publication date, source of financial support. Authors would notice that the criteria recommended by Fink are superficial and might only help in the initial elimination stage. Other important criteria such as quality of study, study objectives/purpose, study focus, length of paper, theory-free or theory-based study, intervention, etc will later need to be considered as further inclusion/exclusion criteria. To minimise the tediousness of this step, the use of referencing program or software is recommended. For example, when using EndNote, authors can create group folders that enable them to put likely papers together whist attaching core/important articles and other relevant materials as needed for full review later. The advantages of the refencing programs include the minimization of referencing errors and the alphabetical arrangement of articles. It automatically identifies categories of papers during referencing. Note that practically screening papers does not encompass assessing the quality of papers.