Evidence Synthesis
Definition
This is a type of research method which aims to draw general conclusions to address a research question on a certain topic, phenomenon or effect by reviewing research outcomes and information from a range of different sources. Information which is subject to synthesis can be extracted from both qualitative and quantitative studies. The method used to synthesise the gathered information can be qualitative (narrative synthesis), quantitative (meta-analysis) or mixed (meta-synthesis, systematic mapping). Evidence synthesis has many applications and is often used in the context of healthcare, public policy as well as understanding and advancement of specific research fields.
References:
- Centre for Evaluation. (n.d.). Evidence Synthesis. https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-evaluation/evidence-synthesis
- James, K. L., Randall, N. P., & Haddaway, N. R. (2016). A methodology for systematic mapping in environmental sciences. Environmental Evidence, 5(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-016-0059-6
- Siddaway, A. P., Wood, A. M., & Hedges, L. V. (2019). How to do a systematic review: a best practice guide for conducting and reporting narrative reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses. Annual Review of Psychology, 70, 747–770. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-102803
Originally drafted by: Marta Topor
Reviewed by: Aoife O’Mahony, Tamara Kalandadze, Adam Parker, Charlotte R. Pennington
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