ALT A ResearchRabbit blog post styled as an academic paper, with an abstract and three columns. Title: “Types of literature review: how to choose the right one for your research”, by Mina from ResearchRabbit. Narrative review: an interpretive overview; use it for background, context or an argument. Scoping review: maps the evidence on a topic; use it when a topic is broad or emerging. Systematic review: answers a focused question using explicit methods to minimize bias; use it when you need a trustworthy answer for practice or policy. Integrative review: combines experimental, non-experimental and theoretical research; use it to build a fuller picture. Rapid review: a quicker systematic or scoping review; use it when a decision is needed fast. Conclusion: your review type isn’t locked in on day one, and your method should match what you’re asking.