An emerging framework for integrating different types of evidence in systematic reviews for public policy

Sandy Oliver et al

Paper presented at the Methdologies Sub Group of the HDA Public Health Evidence Steering Group on
3 February 2003 by Sandy Oliver of The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre), Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London

The aims of the paper are to describe:

• How the methodology of systematic reviewing to questions other than effectiveness is applied
• How findings from different types of studies are juxtaposed to synthesise them
• How replicating these methods in subsequent reviews allowed for reflection on the generic methods
• How the application of a new framework for synthesis compares with conventional systematic reviewing and qualitative research