一句话：厘清七类文献综述的定义与用途，帮助研究者选择、描述综述并让评审选用合适标准。
软件工程领域的二次研究常因不同类型的文献综述及其目的混淆而削弱有效性与实用性。本文辨析七类文献综述：临时综述、案例调查、批判性综述、元分析（即系统文献综述）、元综合（即主题分析）、快速综述和范围综述（即系统映射研究）。作者给出定义与配套指南，说明各类综述的目标、适用场景和评价方式，以帮助研究者更合适地选择并描述自己的文献综述，同时帮助评审者选择更恰当的评价标准。该文属于方法学澄清与指南，不涉及具体软件工程技术的实证评估。
Confusion over different kinds of secondary research, and their divergent purposes, is undermining the effectiveness and usefulness of secondary studies in software engineering. This short paper therefore explains the differences between ad hoc review, case survey, critical review, meta-analysis (aka systematic literature review), meta-synthesis (aka thematic analysis), rapid review and scoping review (aka systematic mapping study). These definitions and associated guidelines help researchers better select and describe their literature reviews, while helping reviewers select more appropriate evaluation criteria.