Conducting a Literature Review for the Social Sciences
What is Evidence-based Literature?
- Evidence-based literature often has the "good housekeeping seal"
- Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, RCTs, guidelines, etc. are considered evidence-based. These documents are often available in databases where the information has been already filtered (e.g. Cochrane Library)
- Helpful in locating the best interventions, programs, etc.
- Evidence-based practice is "a problem-solving approach to clinical practice that integrates appraisal of the most relevant scientific evidence to answer a clinical question, one’s own clinical experience, and client preferences and values."
Evidence-based Resources
- Cochrane Library (via Wiley)Provides systematic reviews on selected topics.
- Campbell CollaborationSystematic reviews and trials of interventions in the social, behavioral and educational arenas.
- National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)A database of available systematic reviews of effectiveness, literature reviews, meta-analyses, expert group reports and other review-level information.
- TRIP Medical Database - Clinical Search Engine"Trip is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find and use high-quality research evidence to support their practice and/or care."
Searching the Evidence-Based Literature
To locate evidence-based literature on your topic, consider
- adding these keywords to your search:
- ("systematic review" OR meta-analysis")
- ("systematic review" OR meta-analysis")
- Limit your search to systematic reviews, meta-analysis, etc. Limiting options will vary by database.
Levels of Evidence in the Literature
Pyramid of Evidence-Based Practice used in classifying levels of literature. The highest levels help in identifying the most effective interventions/treatment when answering research questions.
Source: http://www.samhsa.gov/co-occurring/topics/training/Evidence-BasedPractices%28OP6%29.pdf