Literature Review Screening Log Template for PhD Students

A screening log records what you found, what you decided, and what happens next. Keep one row per retrieved record until you resolve duplicates. Use a stable ID so you can trace a decision back to the citation even if a reference manager later merges records.

This template is for a working title and abstract screen. Here, include means advance to full-text review. Make the final eligibility decision in a separate column or at a later review stage. For a formal systematic review, follow your protocol and reporting requirements. Cochrane distinguishes records and reports from the studies they describe. PRISMA provides flow diagrams for reporting counts through the review process. Cochrane selection guidance · PRISMA flow diagrams

Copy the screening log

Paste this tab-separated template into a spreadsheet. In a shared review, use separate reviewer fields or logs if your protocol requires independent decisions.

Record ID	Search batch	Source	Citation or reference-manager key	DOI / link	Duplicate of	Criteria version	Stage	Decision	Reason code	Decision note	Reviewer	Review date	Next action	Next check date
R001	S01	[database]	[short citation]	[DOI]		1.0	Title/abstract	[include / exclude / uncertain / duplicate]	[code]	[brief rationale]	[initials]	[YYYY-MM-DD]	[action]	[YYYY-MM-DD]

Create a short criteria sheet beside the log. Record the research question, scope, allowed study types, exclusions, and what to do when an abstract lacks detail. Give the criteria a version and date. If your rule changes, record why and flag the earlier rows that need reconsideration.

Work through four different decisions

The fictional review asks how structured peer feedback is used in university writing courses. Its example criteria require university learners, feedback between peers on written coursework, and original empirical data. An abstract with insufficient detail moves to uncertain for clarification. The table uses fictional entries with no real publications.

Use a short reason code such as C1 population, C2 feedback type, or C3 study type. Keep the evidence sentence brief. A second record about the same underlying study can contain different data, so first distinguish an exact duplicate citation from a separate report. Link related reports with a study ID when useful. Cochrane on reports and studies

Reconcile the batch and schedule the next pass

The example has five imported records. One duplicate leaves four for the title and abstract screen. Two are excluded, one advances, and one needs clarification. Report those categories separately so you can explain where every record went. When R004 is resolved, preserve the original uncertainty and add the later decision with its date and evidence.

At the end of a session, filter for uncertain items and missing full texts. Schedule a bounded next action such as “Retrieve R001 and check R004's learner level.” In SelfManager.ai, put the action on its review date and link the working log from the task notes or table. Keep citations and the full decision ledger in your reference manager or screening log. SelfManager.ai FAQ

Use the dissertation progress tracker to connect screening milestones to chapter drafts and supervisor feedback. The PhD planner guide covers the wider research schedule, and the Notion vs OneNote research guide covers organizing reading notes.