How to Use ASReview

Getting started with ASReview

In this guide, you'll learn how to set up ASReview and start screening academic papers efficiently. By the end, you'll be able to prioritise articles based on previous decisions, significantly reducing the time spent on systematic reviews.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to the ASReview website.
2. Click on the "Get Started" button at the top right corner.
3. You will be directed to the app interface. No sign-up is required; you can start using the tool immediately for free.

Step 2: Your first review

1. Click on "New Project" to create a new systematic review project.
2. Enter your project name and a brief description, then click "Create".
3. Upload your dataset of articles (usually in CSV format) by clicking on the "Upload" button.
4. After the upload, select the "Active Learning" option to begin the screening process.
5. ASReview will show you papers one by one. You can classify each paper as "Include", "Exclude", or "Maybe" using the buttons at the bottom of the screen.
6. As you make decisions, the tool will learn and prioritise the next papers accordingly.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use the "Settings" menu to adjust the active learning parameters. For example, you can change the number of articles shown per iteration or set thresholds for inclusion.
2. Regularly check the "Review Statistics" panel to monitor your screening progress and the model's performance.
3. Export your results by clicking on the "Export" button to save your final list of included articles for documentation.

Pro tip

To save time, use the "Skip" button for papers that are clearly irrelevant. This helps the model learn faster and reduces the number of iterations needed.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid uploading datasets with inconsistent formatting or missing data fields. Ensure your CSV is clean and follows the expected structure to prevent errors during the upload process.