The Role of Protocol Papers, Scoping Reviews, and Systematic Reviews in Responsible AI Research

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Calvin Hillis, Ebrahim Bagheri, Zack Marshall

Published: 2025, Last Modified: 06 Jan 2026IEEE Technol. Soc. Mag. 2025EveryoneRevisionsBibTeXCC BY-SA 4.0
Abstract: Research protocol papers, scoping reviews, and systematic reviews are important tools for ensuring transparency, methodological rigor, accountability, and reproducibility in scholarly research. While widely adopted in disciplines such as medicine and social sciences, these practices remain underutilized in computer science and engineering, particularly within responsible AI research. This article explores the critical role that scoping and systematic reviews play in synthesizing knowledge, identifying gaps, and guiding future research in responsible AI. It also examines how research protocol papers—especially those developed for structured reviews—can improve the credibility, clarity, and replicability of responsible AI studies. By outlining the benefits and challenges of these methods, we argue for their greater adoption in AI ethics and responsible AI research. We conclude with recommendations to support the institutional, editorial, and cultural shifts necessary to integrate these rigorous methodological tools into responsible AI scholarship.