Covidence supports researchers working across a wide range of research areas and disciplines. When setting up your review, you will be asked to select the area that best matches your research.
Below are some common research areas and examples of the disciplines they include. If your research could fit into more than one area, choose the one that best represents the main focus of your review.
Arts and humanities
This area includes research into human culture, creativity, history, language, ideas, and forms of expression.
This includes areas such as:
History
Archaeology
Philosophy
Literature
Languages
Visual arts
Music
Performing arts
Cultural studies
Example: What does contemporary literature tell us about changing attitudes towards migration?
Agricultural, veterinary and food science
This area includes research into agriculture, food production, animals, and the science and technologies used to improve food systems and animal health.
This includes areas such as:
Agricultural science
Animal science
Veterinary science
Food science
Horticulture
Crop and pasture science
Animal production
Example: What is the effect of different feeding strategies on milk production in dairy cattle?
Biological and chemical sciences
This area includes research into living organisms, biological processes, matter, and chemical interactions.
This includes areas such as:
Biology
Biochemistry
Genetics
Microbiology
Molecular biology
Ecology
Chemistry
Plant and animal sciences
Example: How does exposure to environmental pollutants affect plant growth?
Earth and environmental sciences
This area includes research into the Earth, its physical systems, and the relationship between human activity and the natural environment.
This includes areas such as:
Environmental science
Climate science
Geology
Geophysics
Oceanography
Hydrology
Soil science
Environmental management
Example: What are the effects of land-use change on local water quality?
Economic, business, management and social sciences
This area includes research into economies, organizations, societies, and the ways people interact with each other and with institutions.
This includes areas such as:
Economics
Management
Business
Finance
Marketing
Social sciences
Sociology
Social work
Communication and media
Library and information science
Criminology and criminal justice
Example: How does remote work affect employee productivity and job satisfaction?
Education
This area includes research into how people learn and how educational systems, practices, and policies can be improved.
This includes areas such as:
Teaching and learning
Curriculum and pedagogy
Early childhood education
Higher education
Educational policy
Educational psychology
Educational technology
Example: Does peer-assisted learning improve students’ academic performance?
Engineering, maths, physics and technology
This area includes research that uses mathematical, physical, engineering, and technological principles to understand problems and develop solutions.
This includes areas such as:
Engineering
Mathematics
Physics
Computer science
Information systems
Information technology
Artificial intelligence
Data science
Architecture
Urban planning
Built environment
Robotics
Materials science
Example: How effective are machine learning methods for detecting defects in manufactured products?
Medical and health sciences
This area includes research into human health, disease, healthcare, and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of health conditions.
Medicine
Nursing
Public health
Global health
Population health
Epidemiology
Pharmacy
Dentistry
Allied health
Nutrition and dietetics
Sport and exercise science
Example: What interventions are effective in reducing health inequalities between population groups?
Psychology
This area includes research into human behavior, cognition, emotions, mental processes, and psychological well being.
Psychology
Clinical psychology
Cognitive psychology
Developmental psychology
Social psychology
Mental health
Psychiatry
Psychological therapies
Mental health services
Psychosocial interventions
Example: What factors influence the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety?
Choosing an area for your research
Research disciplines can overlap. If you’re unsure which area to choose, select the area that best matches the main focus of your research question.