I'm currently working towards getting a systematic review published in a journal, and I'm interested in adapting some of the content in the review for my PhD thesis. I've checked with the publisher guidelines and my thesis adviser and reusing my work is perfectly acceptable provided proper citation is given etc.
However, I'm curious as to what extent the content of a systematic review is acceptable to be used in a thesis, as part of the literature section. Are things like the methodology and the systematic ratings of papers worth including? My impression is that anyone examining the thesis would only really be interested in the outcomes of the review and any relevant discussion.
If you publish your review before submitting your thesis for a formal defense, you need to self-cite it and treat it as an external source. Yet, since you are the author, I think you can still add as much material as you wish. In the body of the thesis, clearly state that this is a systematic review and put all the methodological detail to the appendix. I don't think that the external will have an issue with that as long as it is all explained very clearly and logically. Personally, I were an external, I would consider it a nice addition to the thesis. Good luck with your studies!
There is a significant difference between a paper and a thesis.
In a paper, you have to show a theoretical contribution when conducting a systematic review. In your thesis, this is not a must. In other words, you can use your systematic review as the background of your argument. For a thesis, you need more than a systematic review. You need a conceptual framework and fieldwork research also. It depends on the discipline as well.
For your question, what is acceptable? You have to say in your thesis that this chapter, for example, is based on this publication. As far as you are the first author of your publication, this is acceptable but avoid plagiarism.
Dear Alexander Jamieson ,
I am also including a systematic review in my thesis on cost-effectiveness analysis comparing two health technologies. The methodologic aspects of the systematic review were stablished in the research protocol and they will be included in the final thesis along with the results (including risk of bias of the included studies).
Best,
Erica
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Linguistics
- Composition Studies
- Publisher