Protocols describe the rationale, hypothesis, and planned methods of the project before the review has begun and allow readers of completed reviews to identify deviations from planned methods and determine whether the bias impacts the interpretation of review results and conclusions.
You can upload your review protocol to a website or registry and make it accessible so researchers can know what reviews are planned or in process. While not an inclusive list, several options of places to upload or deposit your protocol can be found below.
- PROSPERO
International prospective register of systematic reviews
- Carolina Digital Repository
Long-term storage and access for scholarly works, datasets, research materials and records produced by the UNC-CH community. Choose "Other Deposits" and then select "Poster, Presentation, Protocol, or Paper".
- Open Science Framework (OSF)
A free, open platform to support your research and enable collaboration
- Campbell Systematic Reviews
Campbell Systematic Reviews is a journal that publishes systematic reviews and protocols
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews is a journal and database that publishes systematic reviews and protocols
- Systematic Reviews (BMC)
A journal that publishes high quality systematic review products including systematic review protocols, systematic reviews related to a very broad definition of health, rapid reviews, updates of already completed systematic reviews, and methods research related to the science of systematic reviews, such as decision modelling.
- Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI)
A review title can be registered with JBI on completion of the online Systematic Review Title Registration Form. Once titles become registered with JBI, they are listed on the website.
Some journals will also publish protocol papers. Contact our Ask A Librarian team to learn which journals for your topic accept protocols.