"A scoping review...is a form of knowledge synthesis that addresses an exploratory research question aimed at mapping key concepts, types of evidence, and gaps in research related to a defined area or field by systematically searching, selecting, and synthesizing existing knowledge" (Colquhoun et al, 2014).
Researchers are publishing scoping reviews in the health sciences, medicine, social sciences, and education at an increasing rate. A PubMed search for scoping reviews found 10 scoping reviews were published in 2010 while 1600 were published in 2019. Duquesne researchers are performing scoping reviews as well, as seen in this EBSCO search.
Other names for scoping reviews include: Scoping Study, Systematic Scoping Review, Scoping Report, Scope of the Evidence, Rapid Scoping Review, Structured Literature Review, Scoping Project, Scoping Meta Review