By Maria Schweer-Collins, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, HEDCO Institute for Evidence-Based Educational Practice
HEDCO Institute Blog 12- July 31, 2024
This month the HEDCO Institute is pleased to launch an evidence synthesis resources page on our website. The resources page is divided into two sections, designed to help connect you with different types of resources.
The first section provides tools and guidance to help you interpret evidence synthesis and find evidence related to programs and practices relevant for your school system, the personnel in your school, and the student populations you support. The second section is geared toward those who want to conduct evidence synthesis projects.
Where can I learn about evidence syntheses and find evidence synthesis reports?
If you are curious about the research synthesis process and would like to learn more, we link some brief videos on our resources page that contain helpful information about the nuts and bolts of the systematic review process.
Where can I find evidence synthesis resources on a program or topic my school or district is interested in?
If you are seeking information about a program or practice, there are evidence “clearinghouses” or registries of effective programs you can access to find more information. An evidence clearinghouse is a database of evidence-based programs or practices. They often have a specific focus, rate programs by the quality of evidence, and describe the characteristics of the studies included in the evidence; this information can help you decide if the results might be relevant for your specific student or school population. Our resources page links to 13 different evidence clearinghouses that may be relevant for school leaders and staff.
What if I am interested in conducting evidence syntheses?
Here at the HEDCO Institute we often receive questions about best practices for conducting evidence synthesis projects. Our team is committed to using the latest innovations in research synthesis methods and openly and transparently sharing the science behind our reviews. If you are looking for a summarized list of the steps and associated tools and resources to conduct evidence syntheses, check out our resources page for conducting evidence synthesis. There you can read about the different types of evidence syntheses and locate helpful tools for each phase of the evidence synthesis process.
What are the types of evidence synthesis reviews and the trade-offs for different types of reviews?
In the early stages of planning a research synthesis, you might be looking for guidance on which review methodology best fits your research question. Different types of evidence syntheses require different amounts of resources (including time) and each type of review accomplishes a different purpose. Because of this, it is worthwhile to consider the goals you have for your review and the tradeoffs you might consider. Our resources page includes visuals to guide you through the decision-making process as you select your review type. We also link to the “Right Review” tool, which offers a click-through interface that asks questions to help you select the type of review best suited to your goals.
What are the different steps in conducting an evidence synthesis review?
If you’re ready to begin planning your evidence synthesis review, our resources page also outlines the steps we follow at the HEDCO Institute when conducting evidence syntheses. These are largely drawn from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, which is open source and freely available. Our resources page walks you through the steps of conducting an evidence synthesis beginning with developing a research question all the way through reporting and sharing out your results with other researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.
We hope that these resources are helpful as you further your understanding of research synthesis, and that they allow you to use evidence-based research in your work.