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Course 1 of 5 – Foundation Level

How to write a Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis Protocol

Register on PROSPERO or OSF, Step by Step

Master PRISMA-P-aligned protocol design, PROSPERO and OSF registration, reproducible workspace architecture, and validated AI-assisted workflows. Build a publication-ready protocol on your own real research project, taught by a published meta-analyst with work published in Nature Human Behaviour (2026).

Enroll Now
Preview Lesson
  • 5–6 hours video · 5 Stations · 68 Lessons
  • 5 Smart HTML modules · 5 Audio recaps
  • Final Examination + SynClarity Seal Certificate
  • 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

How to Write a Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis Protocol – Full Course Walkthrough

Step‑by‑step roadmap: PRISMA‑P, no‑code workflows, and PROSPERO/OSF submission

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1

Course 1 of 5 – Foundation Level

Write a Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis Protocol

Register on PROSPERO or OSF

Master systematic review and meta-analysis protocol design under PRISMA-P, PROSPERO and OSF registration, reproducible workspace architecture, and validated AI-assisted workflows. Build a publication-ready protocol on your own real research project, taught by a published meta-analyst with work forthcoming in Nature Human Behaviour (2026).

Enroll Now
Preview Lesson
  • 5–6 hours video · 5 Stations · 62 Lessons
  • 5 Smart HTML modules · 5 Audio recaps
  • Final Examination + SynClarity Seal Certificate
  • 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

How to Write a Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis Protocol Full Course Walkthrough

Step‑by‑step roadmap: PRISMA‑P, no‑code workflows, and PROSPERO/OSF submission

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What You’ll Achieve

Each outcome below is a direct result of building your systematic review and meta-analysis protocol step by step during the course.

PRISMA-P Compliant Protocol

A complete, publication-ready protocol document (typically 3,000–5,000 words)covering all 17 RISMA-P checklist items.

Registered Protocol

Successfully register your protocol on PROSPERO or OSF, establishing transparency and preventing outcome switching.

Answerable Research Question

Craft a structured research question using PICO, PECO, SPIDER, ECLIPSE, PCC, or PIRT, matched to your discipline and review type.

Reproducible Research Workspace

Set up a structured reference management system, file-naming conventions, and import-ready citation libraries.

SynClarity Seal Eligibility

Meet all criteria for the Synclarity Seal of Methodological Rigor, validating your protocol’s quality and completeness.

Course Syllabus

Five progressive stations guide you from initial concept to registered, publication-ready protocol. Each station builds on the last, with hands-on exercises and AI-assisted workflows.

Lesson 1.1.0: Welcome to the Meta-Journey – How Course 1 Works
Lesson 1.1.1: A History of Evidence Synthesis – From Nightingale to Cochrane
Lesson 1.1.2: The Evidence Hierarchy Pyramid – Why Systematic Reviews Sit at the Top
Lesson 1.1.3: Decision Architecture – Mapping Your Path from Question to Publication
Lesson 1.1.4: The No-Code, No-Fear Approach to Systematic Reviews
Lesson 1.1.5: AI-Enhanced Evidence Synthesis – The Generate-Verify-Document Workflow
Lesson 1.1.6: Station 1.1 Debrief – What You’ve Built So Far

Lesson 1.2.0: Why a Protocol Comes Before the Review
Lesson 1.2.1: The Protocol as a Scientific and Ethical Contract
Lesson 1.2.2: Transparency and Reproducibility in Systematic Reviews
Lesson 1.2.3: How Protocols Minimize Bias – Selection, Reporting, and Outcome Switching
Lesson 1.2.4: Research Accountability and Integrity in Evidence Synthesis
Lesson 1.2.5: Avoiding Duplicate Reviews – How PROSPERO Protects Collaboration
Lesson 1.2.6: Reflection Exercise – Defining Your Own Review’s Purpose
Lesson 1.2.7: Station 2 Debrief – Your Protocol Rationale, Documented

Lesson 1.3.0: Inside a Real PRISMA-P Protocol – Anatomy and Workflow
Lesson 1.3.1: Anatomy of a PRISMA-P Compliant Protocol
Lesson 1.3.2: PRISMA-P Items 1–5 – Administrative Information (Title, Registration, Authors, Amendments, Support)
Lesson 1.3.3: PRISMA-P Items 6–7 – Rationale and Objectives
Lesson 1.3.4: PRISMA-P Methods Section – Items 8 to 17, Overview
Lesson 1.3.5: PRISMA-P Item 8 – Defining Eligibility Criteria
Lesson 1.3.6: PICO Framework – Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (Item 8.1)
Lesson 1.3.7: PECO Framework – Population, Exposure, Comparison, Outcome (Item 8.2)
Lesson 1.3.8: SPIDER Framework – Qualitative and Mixed Methods Reviews (Item 8.3)
Lesson 1.3.9: ECLIPSE Framework – Health Policy and Management Reviews (Item 8.4)
Lesson 1.3.10: PCC Framework – Population, Concept, Context for Scoping Reviews (Item 8.5)
Lesson 1.3.11: PIRT Framework – Diagnostic Test Accuracy Reviews
Lesson 1.3.12: Framework Selection Decision Tree – Choosing Between PICO, PECO, SPIDER, ECLIPSE, PCC, PIRT
Lesson 1.3.13: PRISMA-P Item 9 – Information Sources and Database Selection
Lesson 1.3.14: PRISMA-P Item 10 – Drafting Your Search Strategy
Lesson 1.3.15: PRISMA-P Item 11a – Study Records and Data Management
Lesson 1.3.16: PRISMA-P Item 11b – Study Selection Process and Screening
Lesson 1.3.17: PRISMA-P Item 11c – Data Collection Process and Extraction
Lesson 1.3.18: PRISMA-P Item 12 – Data Items and Variables to Extract
Lesson 1.3.19: PRISMA-P Item 13 – Outcomes, Prioritization, and Effect Measures
Lesson 1.3.20: PRISMA-P Item 14 – Risk of Bias Assessment in Individual Studies
Lesson 1.3.21: PRISMA-P Item 15a – Data Synthesis Strategy and Planning
Lesson 1.3.22: PRISMA-P Item 15b – Quantitative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis Plan
Lesson 1.3.23: PRISMA-P Item 15c – Heterogeneity, Subgroup, and Sensitivity Analyses
Lesson 1.3.24: PRISMA-P Item 15d – Narrative Synthesis When Meta-Analysis Is Not Appropriate
Lesson 1.3.25: PRISMA-P Item 16 – Meta-Biases (Publication Bias and Selective Reporting)
Lesson 1.3.26: PRISMA-P Item 17 – GRADE and Confidence in Cumulative Evidence
Lesson 1.3.27: Station 3 Debrief – Your Complete Protocol, Reviewed

Lesson 1.4.0: Why Most Protocols Fail After Registration – and How to Prevent It
Lesson 1.4.1: The Pre-Mortem Workshop – Identifying Failure Points Before They Happen
Lesson 1.4.2: Lesson 1.4.2: The Integrity Audit – Checking Your Protocol Against PRISMA-P
Lesson 1.4.3: External Stress Test – Anticipating Reviewer and Editor Critique
Lesson 1.4.4: Future-Proofing Your Protocol – Amendments, Living Reviews, and Updates
Lesson 1.4.5: Preparing Your Protocol for PROSPERO and OSF Submission
Lesson 1.4.6: Station 4 Debrief – Your Stress-Tested Protocol

Lesson 1.5.0: From Approved Protocol to Public Registration
Lesson 1.5.1: PROSPERO Registration Step 1 – Review Title and Basic Details
Lesson 1.5.2: PROSPERO Registration Step 2 – Eligibility Criteria
Lesson 1.5.3: PROSPERO Registration Step 3 – Checking for Similar Reviews
Lesson 1.5.4: PROSPERO Registration Step 4 – Review Timeline and Anticipated Completion
Lesson 1.5.5: PROSPERO Registration Step 5 – Linking Your Full Protocol Document
Lesson 1.5.6: PROSPERO Registration Step 6 – Searching and Screening Methods
Lesson 1.5.7: PROSPERO Registration Step 7 – Data Collection Process
Lesson 1.5.8: PROSPERO Registration Step 8 – Outcomes to Be Analyzed
Lesson 1.5.9: PROSPERO Registration Step 9 – Planned Data Synthesis Strategy
Lesson 1.5.10: PROSPERO Registration Step 10 – Current Review Stage
Lesson 1.5.11: PROSPERO Registration Step 11 – Affiliation, Funding, and Peer Review Status
Lesson 1.5.12: PROSPERO Registration Step 12 – Submitting Additional Information
Lesson 1.5.13: Open Science Framework (OSF) Registration – Alternative to PROSPERO
Lesson 1.5.14: Reproducible Research Workspace Architecture – Folders, Files, and Version Control
Lesson 1.5.15: File Naming Conventions for Systematic Reviews
Lesson 1.5.16: Reference Management Infrastructure – Zotero, EndNote, and Mendeley Setup
Lesson 1.5.17: The Summit of Course 1 – Your Registered Protocol, Live

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Lesson 1.5.8: PROSPERO Registration Step 8 – Outcomes to Be Analyzed

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Your Capstone Project

Course 1 culminates in a real-world deliverable: a complete, registered systematic review protocol, built on your own actual research project, not a hypothetical case.

SynClarity Seal Eligible

What You’ll Submit

A complete PRISMA-P-aligned protocol document (typically 3,000–5,000 words)covering all 17 PRISMA-P checklist items, plus proof of PROSPERO or OSF registration. Built on your own real research project, using MetaSyn’s structured workbook templates.

Assessment Criteria

  • Clear, answerable research question (PICO, PECO, SPIDER, ECLIPSE, PCC, or PIRT)
  • Comprehensive search strategy across at least 3 databases
  • Explicit eligibility criteria and reproducible selection process
  • Defined data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment methods
  • Appropriate synthesis plan (narrative or meta-analytic)
  • Complete PRISMA-P checklist and PROSPERO or OSF registration confirmation

Feedback & Revision

You’ll receive detailed written feedback from Dr. Saeedy Robat personally within 3 business days for founding-cohort members. Protocols meeting all criteria earn the SynClarity Seal of Methodological Rigor, a digital badge you can display on your CV, LinkedIn, and publications.

Learn About the SynClarity Seal

Who Should Take This Course

Whether you are writing your first systematic review and meta-analysis protocol or strengthening an existing draft, this course gives you the complete architecture.

Graduate Students

Master’s and PhD candidates planning thesis-based systematic reviews.

Early-Career Researchers

Postdocs and junior faculty building evidence synthesis portfolios.

Clinicians & Practitioners

Healthcare professionals conducting clinical guidelines reviews.

Policy Researchers

Analysts synthesizing evidence for policy recommendations.

Industry Researchers

R&D teams conducting competitive intelligence or market reviews.

Librarians & Info Specialists

Information professionals supporting systematic review teams.

The SynClarity Guarantee

If you’re not satisfied with the course for any reason within 30 days of enrollment, we’ll refund 100% of your tuition, no questions asked. Your clarity is our promise.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Read Full Guarantee Terms

Included Protocol Templates and Workbooks in Course One

Working Templates Included in Course 1
PRISMA-aligned, project-ready workbooks designed for real research projects across health, education, policy, social science, and applied linguistics. Each template is filled out alongside the lessons, building your protocol step by step. You finish Course 1 with a registered protocol, not a folder of blank documents.

MetaSyn Academy · Course 1 Resources

PRISMA-P Aligned · Course 1 Core

Systematic Review Protocol Workbook – All Review Types

A working systematic review and meta-analysis protocol template covering all 17 PRISMA-P 2015 checklist items with worked examples across health, education, policy, applied linguistics, and corporate research. Filled out section-by-section alongside Course 1 lessons. Includes Dr. Robat’s expedition tips, common pitfalls, and a built-in framework selector for PICO, PECO, SPIDER, ECLIPSE, PCC, and PIRT.

  • Covers all 17 PRISMA-P items with inline guidance and discipline-specific examples
  • Built-in framework selector: PICO, PECO, SPIDER, ECLIPSE, PCC, PIRT
  • Compatible with PROSPERO, OSF, and all major evidence synthesis registries
Access the protocol workbook
  • Included with Course 1 enrollment
AI-Enhanced · GVD Protocol · Course 1

AI Prompt Library for Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis & Evidence Synthesis

This PRISMA-aligned AI prompt library is purpose-built for developing your protocol, not for generic research tasks. It features 18 precision-engineered prompts that follow the Generate-Verify-Document (GVD) protocol, and they are fully compatible with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The library covers protocol drafting, eligibility criteria design, search-strategy translation, and PRISMA validation. Empower your evidence synthesis with AI while staying transparent, reproducible, and methodologically rigorous.

  • 18 tested prompts for systematic review protocol tasks, not generic AI research prompts
  • Every prompt includes a simple, mandatory, and transparent verification step to prevent AI hallucination.
  • Compatible with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and PRISMA-AI transparency guidance
Access the prompt library
  • Included with Course 1 enrollment
Multi-Discipline · All Frameworks · Course 1

PICO Framework Template & Workbook – Health, Education, Policy & Social Science

Question Framework Workbook – Health, Education, Policy & Social Science A multi-framework question workbook for your review protocol, with worked examples, with worked examples across healthcare, education, social science, applied linguistics, corporate research, and environmental policy. Provides field-specific terms and discipline-appropriate examples for every framework variant: PICO, PECO, SPIDER, ECLIPSE, PCC, and PIRT.

  • 6 frameworks × 3 disciplines = 18 fully worked real-world examples (not blank tables)
  • Field-specific worked examples for each framework – PICO, PECO, SPIDER,ECLIPSE, PCC, PIRT
  • Integrated framework selector – diagnostic questions to choose the right framework for your review
Access the question framework workbook
  • Included with Course 1 enrollment
Pre-Protocol Decision Tool · Course 1

Systematic Review vs. Scoping Review vs. Rapid Review Decision Tool & Comparison Guide

Stop before you write a single word of your systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. This decision tool answers the most-searched question in evidence synthesis: which review type do I actually need? Includes a one-page decision flowchart, side-by-side comparison of seven review types, methodological requirements for each, and a justified one-sentence rationale you can paste directly into your protocol title.

  • Decision flowchart comparing systematic, scoping, rapid, umbrella, and narrative
    reviews
  • Minimum primary study requirements, registration obligations, and realistic timelines for each type
  • One-sentence output: a justified review-type statement ready for your PROSPERO registration title
Access the review type decision tool
  • Included with Course 1 enrollment

All workbooks are PRISMA-2020 aligned, methodology-reviewed by Dr. Saeedy Robat, and compatible with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

PRISMA-2020 Aligned
Methodology-Reviewed
ChatGPT · Claude · Gemini Ready
Included with Course 1

What Our Students Say

Original testimonials available for verification.

  • Very easy, fluent, and clear explanations. The examples were simple, tangible, and always focused on what was relevant to each section. Overall, clean and well-organized.” Mohammad Faradars student. Translated. View original →
    Mohammad
    Faradars student
    2023/02/13
  • Compared to other meta-analysis and systematic review courses, this one was outstanding and comprehensive. The software demonstrations were especially clear and up to date. Elham Faradars student. Translated. View original →
    Elham
    Faradars student
    2023/03/01
  • Warm thanks for your effort in this course. The tips were highly practical and immediately applicable. A truly valuable learning experience. Maedeh Sajedi. Maktabkhooneh student. Translated. View original →
    Maedeh Sajedi
    Maktabkhooneh student
    2026/05/13

8,000+ researchers trained through previous editions of Dr. Robat’s systematic review and meta-analysis programs on Faradars and Maktabkhooneh, now expanded and adapted for a global audience through MetaSyn Academy.

Pricing & Enrollment

Choose the learning path that fits your research goals and team structure

Individual

299€

Self-Paced – Founding Cohort

  • Full course access (5 hours)
  • PRISMA-P protocol framework
  • Zotero & folder templates
  • Certificate eligibility
  • Community access
Enroll Now – 299€
  • SynClarity 30-Day Guarantee
Limited Seats

Individual + Mentored

499€

Guided clarity with Dr. Robat

  • Everything in Individual PLUS
  • 2-3 personal consultations
  • Tailored protocol feedback
  • Priority capstone review
Apply for Mentored Track
  • SynClarity 30-Day Guarantee

Academic / Research Group

1,800€

up to 10 seats

Department-ready training

  • Cohort access
  • Onboarding webinar
  • Shared templates
  • Group Q&A
Request Academic Access

Institutional / Industry

6,000€-9,000€

custom

Evidence literacy for organiztions

  • Up to 25 seats
  • Tailored sector examples
  • Live workshop
  • Cohort certification
Contact Enterprise Team

Pricing & Enrollment

Choose the learning path that fits your research goals and team structure

Individual

299€

Self-paced, protocol-focused training

  • Full course access (5 hours)
  • PRISMA-P protocol framework
  • Zotero & folder templates
  • Certificate eligibility
  • Community access
Enroll Now – 299$
  • SynClarity 30-Day Guarantee
Limited Seats

Individual + Mentored

499€

Guided clarity with Dr. Robat

  • Everything in Individual PLUS
  • 2-3 personal consultations
  • Tailored protocol feedback
  • Priority capstone review
Apply for Mentored Track
  • SynClarity 30-Day Guarantee

Academic / Research Group

1,800€

up to 10 seats

Department-ready training

  • Cohort access
  • Onboarding webinar
  • Shared templates
  • Group Q&A
Request Academic Access

Institutional / Industry

6,000€-9,000€

custom

Evidence literacy for organiztions

  • Up to 25 seats
  • Tailored sector examples
  • Live workshop
  • Cohort certification
Contact Enterprise Team

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions we hear most about Course 1, answered clearly and without marketing
language.

After payment, you’ll receive instant access to the Course 1 dashboard inside MetaSyn Academy. All 62 video lessons, 5 Smart HTML interactive modules, 5 audio recaps, all working templates, and the final examination unlock immediately.

Approximately 5–6 hours of video plus 8–15 hours of guided protocol work on your own research project, depending on your topic complexity. Most learners complete Course 1 in 3–4 weeks alongside other commitments. Self-paced, no calendar deadlines.

No. Course 1 is built on MetaSyn’s No-Code,No-Fear philosophy. You’ll learn the logic and judgment of protocol design, not statistical programming. Stations 4 and 5 walk you through software (PROSPERO, OSF, reference management) with screen-by-screen demonstrations.

Yes. On successful completion of the final examination and protocol submission, you receive the SynClarity Seal of Methodological Rigor, a digital credential you can display on your CV, LinkedIn, ORCID, and publications. Includes verification link for institutional review.

30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with Course 1 for any reason within 30 days of enrollment, we’ll refund 100% of your tuition, no questions asked. See full terms at Metasyn.academy / The SynClarity Seal

Yes – lifetime access. All videos, templates, audio recaps, Smart HTML modules, and updates remain available to you indefinitely after enrollment.

Course 1 is designed around your own real project. The MetaSyn templates are working workbooks, you fill them in section-by-section as the lessons progress, with your real research question, your real eligibility criteria, your real search strategy. By the end of Course 1 you have a registered protocol on PROSPERO or OSF for your actual research, not a hypothetical case.

Yes, Course 1 teaches a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol that is fully aligned with PRISMA-P, Cochrane, and GRADE standards

Cochrane is the gold standard for clinical and medical evidence theory, and our curriculum strictly adheres to Cochrane Handbook methods. However, MetaSyn differs in three structural ways. First, we are multidisciplinary; while Cochrane focuses almost exclusively on clinical interventions (PICO), we provide equal infrastructure for social science, education, and policy reviews (teaching PECO, SPIDER, and PCC frameworks). Second, MetaSyn integrates modern AI-assisted workflows using our proprietary Generate-Verify-Document (GVD) protocol, which traditional medical courses currently exclude. Finally, we are project-based, meaning you do not just learn theory, you actively build and register your actual PROSPERO or OSF protocol while you take the course.

Most university MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are observational: you watch lectures and take multiple-choice quizzes to learn methodological theory. MetaSyn Academy is an execution environment. We replace generic assignments with PRISMA-P aligned working templates. You use the course strictly as a vehicle to build your own real-world research project. Instead of finishing with a certificate of attendance, you finish Course 1 with a fully registered, peer-defensible systematic review protocol ready for execution.

Ready to Build Your Protocol?

Join the founding cohort of Course 1 – the first English-speaking edition of training previously delivered to 8,000+ researchers worldwide. Enroll today and earn your SynClarity Seal within weeks

Enroll in Course 1 Now
View Full 12-Course Roadmap

Questions? Email support@metasyn.academy or schedule a free 15-minute consultation.