The Faculty of Business of the City University of Macau held an academic seminar titled “Constructing Methodology for Systematic Literature Review: From Conceptual Definition and Structured Writing to High-Impact Publication” today at Taipa Campus. The session was delivered by Dr. Jie Sheng, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Macau University of Science and Technology, and attracted active participation from doctoral and master’s students.

Dr. Sheng highlighted that a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), compared with traditional narrative reviews, is characterized by its rigor, transparency, reproducibility, and structured methodological process. As one of the essential approaches for identifying research gaps, synthesizing existing knowledge, and establishing theoretical foundations, SLR plays a critical role in the development of high-quality academic work.

During the workshop, Dr. Sheng explained the key differences between conventional literature reviews and SLRs, and walked the participants through the standardized process of conducting SLRs: research question formulation, database search strategies, screening criteria, coding procedures, and techniques for qualitative and quantitative synthesis.

She also shared practical strategies for enhancing publication success, illustrating her points with examples from her publications in leading SSCI journals such as the International Journal of Consumer Studies and the Journal of Advertising Research. Her discussion underscored the importance of methodological rigor in navigating today’s competitive journal submission environment.

The event was organized by the Faculty of Business to support graduate students in building stronger research capabilities, improving scholarly writing, and strengthening their competitiveness in academic publication and professional development.