Whether you plan to perform a meta-analysis or not, you will need to establish a regimented approach to extracting data. Researchers often use a form or table to capture the data they will then summarize or analyze. The amount and types of data you collect, as well as the number of collaborators who will be extracting it, will dictate which extraction tools are best for your project. Programs like Excel or Google Spreadsheets might be the best option for smaller or more straightforward projects, while systematic review software platforms can provide more robust support for larger or more complicated projects.
It is recommended that you pilot your data extraction tool (especially if you will code your data) to determine if fields should be added or clarified, or if the review team needs additional guidance in collecting and coding the data.
Excel
Excel is the most basic tool for the management of the screening and data extraction stages of the systematic review process. Customized workbooks and spreadsheets can be designed for the review process. A more advanced approach to using Excel for this purpose is the PIECES approach, designed by Margaret Foster at Texas A&M:
Covidence
Covidence is a software platform for managing independent title and abstract screening, full text screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment in a systematic review project. Covidence can help you customize extraction tables and export your extracted data.
RevMan
RevMan is used to manage Cochrane systematic reviews. For an overview on RevMan, including how it can be used to extract and analyze data, watch the RevMan Web Quickstart Guide or check out the RevMan Knowledge Base.
SRDR+
SRDR+ (Systematic Review Data Repository) is a free online platform for the extraction and management of data for systematic review or meta-analysis. It is also an open and searchable archive of systematic reviews and their data. Access the help page for more information.
DistillerSR
DistillerSR is a systematic review management software program, similar to Covidence. It guides reviewers in creating project-specific forms, extracting, and analyzing data. It is not free, but academic discounts are available.
JBI Sumari
JBI Sumari (from the Joanna Briggs Institute System for the United Management, Assessment and Review of Information and Wolters Kluwer Health) is a systematic review software platform geared toward fields such as health, social sciences, and humanities. Among the other steps of a review project, it facilitates data extraction and data synthesis. View their short introductions to data extraction and analysis for more information.
SR Toolbox
There are many, many more tools out there than can be listed in this brief guide. SR Toolbox is a community-driven, searchable, web-based catalog of tools that support the systematic review process across multiple domains. Use the advanced search option to restrict to tools specific to data extraction.