The ULS Evidence Synthesis service supports researchers at the University of Pittsburgh who are seeking to identify and synthesize all available research on a particular topic in the Sciences, Social Sciences, or Humanities. Evidence Synthesis is a set of research methods that bring together all data, both published and unpublished, related to a defined research question. Through the identification, combination, and analysis of results from multiple research studies, Evidence Synthesis methods allow for the comprehensive exploration and analysis of a topic or question to advance research in a field or discipline.
Requests for Evidence Synthesis support can be initiated through the Research Guide for Evidence Synthesis @ the ULS, where you can schedule an appointment with the Lead Librarian for Evidence Synthesis. Through an initial research consultation, the appropriate methodology and tool for approaching your research needs will be identified and a project timeframe established.
Systematic Reviews
Systematic Reviews are one of the more common research methods for Evidence Synthesis, and they are characterized by:
- Exhaustive review of primary evidence on a clearly formulated question
- Transparent, reproducible methods that follow an established protocol
Scoping Reviews
Scoping Reviews are a popular form of Evidence Synthesis that allows for the identification of gaps in knowledge domains and the critical evaluation of existing research. As a process, Scoping Reviews may take longer than Systematic Reviews, but they are well-suited to determine the scope of coverage of the literature on a given topic and they are characterized by:
- Systematic collection and categorization of existing evidence on a broad question of policy or management importance
- Identification of research gaps and opportunities for evidence synthesis rather than searching for the effect of an intervention
Please visit the Research Guide for Evidence Synthesis @ the ULS to explore other approaches for Evidence Synthesis, the steps for conducting a comprehensive research project, and an overview of standards that guide research and publication using Evidence Synthesis
