Screening Overview
Screening is the process of deciding which citations to include in your systematic review. VADRR supports two sequential phases:
- Abstract screening — Reviewers read titles and abstracts and apply an inclusion label.
- Full-text screening — Reviewers read the full paper and make a final inclusion decision.
Inclusion Labels
Each citation receives one of three labels in each screening phase:
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Yes (1) | Include this study — move it to the next phase |
| Maybe (2) | Uncertain; requires further review or discussion |
| No (3) | Exclude this study from the review |
Single-blind vs Double-blind
VADRR screening sessions can be configured as:
- Single-blind — One screener reviews each citation. Decisions are final as they are made.
- Double-blind — Two or more screeners independently review each citation. Where they disagree, a conflict is recorded and must be resolved by a Lead reviewer.
- Perpetual — Citations are continuously assigned to screeners as new ones are imported, using a round-robin or fixed-assignment model.
Screening Phases Are Independent
Abstract and full-text screening are separate sessions. Citations that pass abstract screening (labelled Yes) become available for full-text screening. Citations labelled No at abstract stage are not shown in full-text screening by default.