What are the key characteristics and methodologies used in systematic review papers?

Systematic review papers are characterized by a rigorous and comprehensive approach to gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing existing research on a specific topic. Key characteristics include a clearly defined research question, explicit criteria for selecting and evaluating studies, and a systematic search strategy to identify relevant literature. Methodologies commonly used in systematic reviews include meta-analysis to quantitatively combine results from multiple studies, and PRISMA guidelines to ensure transparency and reproducibility in the review process.