Rayyan Software: A Powerful Tool for Streamlining Systematic Reviews
Conducting a high‑quality systematic review can be one of the most time‑consuming
and complex tasks in research. From screening thousands of articles to managing
duplicates and ensuring transparent decision‑making, researchers often struggle
to stay organized. Rayyan, a free web‑based and mobile application, was
designed specifically to simplify this process. Today, it has become one of the
most widely used tools for evidence synthesis across health sciences, social
sciences, and interdisciplinary research.
https://youtu.be/UEH3yDl-sLs
What Is Rayyan?
Rayyan is an intelligent screening and collaboration platform created to
support researchers conducting systematic reviews, scoping reviews, meta‑analyses,
and other evidence‑based projects. It uses machine learning, tagging, and
filtering features to help researchers screen large volumes of studies quickly
and consistently. Because it is cloud‑based, Rayyan allows teams to work
together in real time, making it ideal for multi‑author projects and academic
collaborations.
What Can Rayyan Be Used For?
Rayyan is designed to support several key stages of the review process:
- Importing
and organizing citations from databases such as
PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
- Removing
duplicate records automatically to reduce manual workload.
- Blinded
screening, allowing multiple reviewers to make
independent decisions without influencing each other.
- Applying
inclusion and exclusion criteria using customizable tags.
- Filtering
and sorting studies based on keywords, decisions, or reviewer
conflicts.
- Resolving
disagreements efficiently through side‑by‑side comparison.
- Exporting
final decisions for PRISMA flow diagrams and manuscript
reporting.
These features make Rayyan especially valuable for researchers who need
a structured, transparent, and efficient workflow.
How to Use Rayyan: A Simple Step‑by‑Step Guide
Using
Rayyan is straightforward, even for beginners:
1. Create an Account and Start a New Review
Sign up for a free account on Rayyan’s website. Once logged in, click
“Create New Review” and enter basic details such as the review title and
description.
2. Import Your Search Results
Export citations from your chosen databases in formats like RIS, BibTeX,
or EndNote XML. Upload them directly into Rayyan. The software will
automatically detect and remove duplicates.
3. Invite Collaborators
If you are working with a team, you can invite co‑reviewers and choose
whether to keep decisions blinded until the screening phase is complete.
4. Begin Title and Abstract Screening
Reviewers can mark each study as “Include,” “Exclude,” or “Maybe.” Tags
can be added to justify decisions or categorize reasons for exclusion.
5. Use Filters and AI Suggestions
Rayyan’s AI can suggest articles that are likely to be included or
excluded based on your early decisions. Filters help you quickly navigate large
datasets.
6. Resolve Conflicts
Once screening is complete, Rayyan highlights disagreements between
reviewers. These can be discussed and resolved within the platform.
7. Export Final Decisions
After screening, export your included studies for full‑text review or
data extraction. Rayyan also provides files that support PRISMA reporting.
Which Research Studies Can Benefit from Rayyan?
Rayyan is versatile and can be used across many disciplines. It is
especially useful for:
- Systematic
reviews in nursing, medicine, public health, and
allied health.
- Scoping
reviews exploring broad or emerging topics.
- Meta‑analyses
requiring transparent study selection.
- Qualitative
evidence syntheses, where large numbers of studies must be
screened.
- Educational
research, particularly curriculum reviews or
technology‑enhanced learning studies.
- Social
science reviews, including psychology, sociology, and policy
research.
Any project that involves screening literature systematically can
benefit from Rayyan’s structured workflow.
Conclusion
Rayyan has transformed the way researchers approach systematic and
scoping reviews. By combining intelligent automation with user‑friendly
features, it reduces workload, enhances collaboration, and improves the
transparency of the screening process. Whether you are a graduate student
conducting your first review or an experienced researcher managing a large
team, Rayyan offers a reliable and efficient solution for organizing and
screening research evidence. Its accessibility, speed, and accuracy make it an
essential tool for anyone engaged in evidence‑based practice or scholarly
inquiry.
References:
Ouzzani, M., Hammady, H., Fedorowicz, Z., &
Elmagarmid, A. (2016). Rayyan—a Web and Mobile App for Systematic Reviews. Systematic
Reviews, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-016-0384-4
Johnson, N., & Phillips, M. (2018). Rayyan for
systematic reviews. Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 30(1),
46–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/1941126x.2018.1444339
GSU Library Research Guides: Rayyan for Systematic
and Scoping Reviews: Home. (2025). Gsu.edu.
https://research.library.gsu.edu/c.php?g=1059580&p=7701861