Evidence synthesis is a structured, transparent approach to identifying, evaluating, and integrating findings from existing research to answer a clearly defined question or to map what is known about a topic. Rather than relying on single studies, evidence synthesis uses reproducible methods to assess the totality of available evidence, reducing bias and increasing confidence in research conclusions. Evidence synthesis encompasses various types of structured reviews, such as systematic reviews, meta-analyses, rapid reviews, and scoping reviews.
The Libraries provide training and consultation to help researchers design rigorous, transparent, and reproducible evidence synthesis projects. We offer guidance on:
- Formulating and refining research questions
- Choosing an appropriate review methodology
- Selecting relevant databases and search terms
- Developing and documenting an effective search strategy
- Using article screening and selection tools like Covidence
