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Evidence Synthesis

This research guide provides an overview of the evidence synthesis process, guidance documents for conducting evidence synthesis projects, and links to resources to help you conduct a comprehensive and systematic search of the scholarly literature.

Data appraisal

Critical appraisal of the data

  • Enables a reviewer to assess the trustworthiness, relevance, and results of the identified data to help determine if it is believable and useful.
  • Helps to establish the methodological quality of the identified studies.
  • It's essential to use a variety of critical appraisal instruments tailored to the design or type of study or literature under review, especially since this approach significantly increases the rigour of the evaluation.
  • Unfortunately, no single tool can be universally applied to all studies or literature, as each instrument has its limitations and is suited to specific types of research. Therefore, setting appropriate marks or cut-off points for selection becomes crucial to ensuring a fair assessment.
  • Documentation of the appraisal process is also vital, and presenting the results in a table format can enhance clarity and facilitate comparisons across different studies.
  • Should consider the internal validity of the study (how well the study was conducted), the external validity (the generalisability of the study), and the risk of bias.

 

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