By Patience Gbeze/Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, Oct. 20, GNA – Researchers, particularly PhD students and faculty members, have been urged to build their capacity in systematic review and meta-analysis to improve the quality of their research and enhance their chances of securing research grants.
Madam Cynthia Atua-Ntow, Assistant Librarian of the University of Ghana (UG) Library System, said systematic reviews and meta-analyses helped researchers synthesise existing data, identify knowledge gaps and establish what had already been done in their respective fields.
She said the skills had become increasingly important in grant writing, as funding agencies often required researchers to provide systematic reviews of existing literature to demonstrate the relevance and originality of their proposed studies.
Madam Atua-Ntow was speaking on the sidelines of a workshop on Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis organised by the Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science (DABCS), with support from BANGA-AFRICA.
The workshop began with sessions on the fundamentals of systematic reviews, the differences between various types of literature reviews, when to use them, and the steps involved in conducting a systematic review.
Participants were also introduced to protocol development, formulating research questions, and selecting appropriate frameworks, which she described as essential components of a sound systematic review.
She said the training was intended to address challenges researchers faced in conducting systematic reviews, particularly in understanding the process and applying appropriate methods to their studies.
Madam Atua-Ntow said the subsequent sessions would focus on developing search strategies and using software tools with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to make the research process more efficient.
She explained that developing effective search strategies was critical because systematic reviews relied on relevant research articles, adding that failure to identify and retrieve appropriate studies could weaken the findings.
“Although systematic reviews are traditionally time-consuming and can take several months to complete, advances in AI-enabled software can help researchers streamline aspects of the process and complete their work more efficiently,” she added.
Madam Atua-Ntow observed that some researchers struggled with systematic reviews because they did not understand the differences between review types and often began the process without a clear methodology.
She urged researchers to invest in continuous professional development and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for quality research and academic publishing.
She said building capacity in systematic review and meta-analysis would help researchers avoid wasting time, improving the rigour of their work, and producing stronger research outputs.
Dr Winnie N.A. Sowah, Senior Lecturer, Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, UG, encouraged researchers to embrace emerging technologies, including AI-assisted tools, to improve efficiency and reduce the time required to conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
She said periodic training was necessary to help researchers keep abreast of new technologies and understand how to apply them to improve their work.
She said the workshop on Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis provided an opportunity for participants to refresh their knowledge and explore more efficient approaches to conducting research.
“Researchers need to remain open to technological developments and regularly update their skills to enhance productivity and improve the quality of their research,” she stressed.
Professor Benjamin Yeboah Ofori, Immediate Past Post-Graduate Program Coordinator, DABCS, said the workshop formed part of a series of training programmes to equip PhD students and young faculty with the skills to conduct cutting-edge research.
He said the initiative would strengthen researchers’ capacity in systematic review and meta-analysis while promoting collaboration among departments with related research interests.
Professor Ofori explained that literature reviews formed the foundation of good research, with different approaches, including scoping reviews, traditional literature reviews, bibliometric reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, serving distinct purposes.
He said the workshop brought together researchers from Animal Biology and Conservation Science, Plant and Environmental Biology, and Marine and Fisheries Sciences to share expertise and build partnerships.
Prof. Ofori said the initiative also aligned with the University’s strategic plan, particularly its pillars on engagement and partnership, and sustainable resource mobilisation and stewardship.
He urged senior researchers to mentor postgraduate students and young faculty by sharing practical experiences alongside the knowledge provided by resource persons, describing them as essential to the University’s research succession planning.
GNA