Methodology for Systematic Reviews in Education

Systematic reviews are characterized by their strict adherence to scientific principles, rigorous methodologies, and transparent, replicable processes that minimize bias. However, comprehensive guidance for conducting systematic reviews in education is limited. To address this limitation, we reviewed methodological papers on systematic reviews, streamlined process and practical strategies, and incorporated typical examples from educational reviews.This review summarizes the systematic review process into four main phases: planning, selection, data extraction, and reporting. Each phase includes multiple key steps: (a) Planning-formulating research questions, developing protocols, (b) selection-managing data, conducting searches and screenings, (c) data extraction-assessing quality, extracting data, and synthesizing findings, and (d) reporting-interpreting results, and acknowledging limitations. We elaborate each phase with the steps, practical strategies, and typical examples in education.By clarifying the process and providing practical tools, this article offers a step-by-step guide for researchers to conduct high-quality systematic reviews and make evidence-based decision-making in educational research.