METHODOLOGY GUIDES · WRITTEN BY A WORKING META-ANALYST
The Decision Literacy Hub
Methodology guides for systematic review, meta-analysis, and evidence synthesis. Field manuals for researchers who refuse to guess — written by Dr. Esmaeel Saeedy Robat, published meta-analyst (Nature Human Behaviour 2026, forthcoming).
FIVE KNOWLEDGE PATHWAYS
Organized by the work, not the calendar
Articles are organized by the methodological phase they address — not by publication date. Find what you need by where you are in your research.
Question & Protocol
Framing answerable questions and building registered, defensible protocols.
Search & Screening
Comprehensive literature discovery and reproducible study selection.
Appraisal & Synthesis
Risk-of-bias, quantitative and narrative synthesis, GRADE certainty.
AI in Evidence Synthesis
AI-augmented workflows with human verification at every methodological checkpoint.
Applied Synthesis
Evidence work in HEOR, policy, education, and applied research contexts.
Question & Protocol
Framing answerable questions and building registered, defensible protocols.
Search & Screening
Comprehensive literature discovery and reproducible study selection.
Appraisal & Synthesis
Risk-of-bias, quantitative and narrative synthesis, GRADE certainty.
AI in Evidence Synthesis
AI-augmented workflows with human verification at every methodological checkpoint.
Applied Synthesis
Evidence work in HEOR, policy, education, and applied research contexts.
FEATURED · START HERE
The foundation question every reviewer must answer first
PICO?
PECO?
SPIDER?
Choosing your framework
How to Frame an Answerable Review Question Across Six Frameworks
The choice between PICO, PECO, SPIDER, ECLIPSE, PCC, and PIRT is not just academic — it determines what evidence you find, what you can synthesize, and what you can defend. A walkthrough of how to choose, with worked examples from health, education, and policy research.
Dr. Esmaeel Saeedy Robat
Published meta-analyst · Nature Human Behaviour 2026
Available now
One new methodology guide per month · all written by a working meta-analyst
PROSPERO vs OSF: Which Pre-Registration Platform Fits Your Research?
Both strengthen transparency, but they serve different research cultures. A worked decision framework with examples from clinical and non-clinical contexts.
Dr. Saeedy Robat · May 12, 2026
When to Use Meta-Analysis vs. Narrative Synthesis
The decision is not “more rigorous” vs. “less rigorous” — it is about what your evidence can support. Five concrete tests for making the call.
Dr. Saeedy Robat · May 5, 2026
Why Systematic Reviews Fail: The Infrastructure Gap Before Analysis
Most systematic review failures stem from infrastructure absence — not statistical incompetence. The reasoning, with what the evidence shows about preventing it.
Dr. Saeedy Robat · April 28, 2026
120+ articles across 8 knowledge pathways • Updated weekly
New guides, frameworks, and commentaries are published regularly and automatically organized within their respective pathways.
What You’ll Find Here
This is not a news blog. It is an evergreen knowledge base designed to support systematic thinking, methodological rigor, and judgment under uncertainty.
Methodological Guides
Protocol logic, PRISMA-P reasoning, search strategy design, bias assessment, and synthesis approaches. Learn the architecture of defensible evidence reviews.
Decision Frameworks
How to choose methods, interpret evidence, assess certainty, and defend conclusions. Navigate the gap between data and action with confidence.
AI & Judgment
Responsible use of AI in evidence synthesis. The Guided Verification-Driven (GVD) philosophy: AI accelerates, humans verify, judgment prevails.
Knowledge Pathways
Articles are organized into conceptual pathways that mirror the systematic review process from question to conclusion.
Framing Research & Decision Questions
PICO/PECO logic, stakeholder mapping, and defining answerable questions.
Protocol Design & Registration
PRISMA-P structure, pre-specification, and transparent planning.
Search Strategy & Study Selection
Database selection, Boolean logic, citation screening, and study flow.
Bias, Validity & Risk of Error
RoB 2, ROBINS-I, critical appraisal, and certainty of evidence.
Quantitative & Qualitative Synthesis
Meta-analysis, narrative synthesis, and integrating diverse evidence.
Interpretation, GRADE & Reporting
From findings to recommendations, structured transparency.
Evidence for Policy, Business & Practice
Applied decision-making in health, environment, law, and strategy.
AI-Enhanced Evidence Workflows
Leveraging AI responsibly while preserving methodological integrity.
The Four Phases of Evidence Mastery
From foundational decisions to advanced territories, your journey through the landscape of evidence synthesis.
How to Frame an Answerable Review Question
A systematic approach to defining PICO/PECO elements and scoping boundaries before protocol registration.
PRISMA-P Checklist Explained: Building a Defensible Protocol
Item-by-item guidance for completing PRISMA-P with clarity, specificity, and alignment to reporting standards.
Understanding Risk of Bias: RoB 2 and ROBINS-I
A practical introduction to structured bias assessment tools and how they inform certainty of evidence.
When to Use Meta-Analysis vs. Narrative Synthesis
Decision criteria for choosing quantitative pooling, qualitative integration, or hybrid synthesis approaches.
GRADE Framework: From Evidence to Recommendations
How certainty ratings, values, and resource considerations shape evidence-to-decision pathways.
The GVD Philosophy: AI as Acceleration, Not Replacement
Guided Verification-Driven workflows for responsible AI integration in evidence synthesis.
How This Connects to the Academy
Free guides build foundational thinking. The Meta-Journey courses teach you to apply that thinking. Advanced circles (coming soon) connect you with fellow practitioners at the frontier of evidence.
Weblog
Course 1 (Launchpad)
Meta-Journey
Summit Circle
The Weblog is your field manual. The Academy is your training ground. The journey is designed to compound.
Grounded in Established Standards
MetaSyn Academy’s approach is aligned with internationally recognized reporting and methodological standards. We are conceptually grounded in these frameworks, not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.