Systematic Reviews
It is becoming increasingly common that policy interventions to be based on best available evidence. The purpose of a systematic review is to summarise the best available research on a specific question.
This is done by synthesising the results of several studies. Participants will explore the range of existing approaches to, and methods for, research synthesis. The course will provide hands-on application of several commonly applied methods (including the procedures proposed by the Cochrane Collaboration).
The course uses material from a range of policy areas and explores different types of review questions. Participants will be introduced to varous methods for synthesising both a range of study designs and qualitative and quantitative data, although there is an emphasis on synthesising quantitative data (meta-analysis). To help participants consider the role of systematic reviews within evidence-based decision-making, this course also includes a discussion of the opportunities and challenges that systematic reviews pose.
Teaching Format
Course participants and instructors meet approximately twice a week. Each meeting involves lectures, group discussions, or computer-based exercises and Q&A, and thus requires active student participation and preparation (through reading literature and completing tasks). The lectures and seminars cover topics not necessarily addressed in the required readings and should therefore be viewed as a complement to the mandatory literature.
Assessment
All coursework is based on collaborative work. Meeting with the group is therefore mandatory. The course is examined through:
- Replicated Systematic Review (in Group)
- Peer Review (in Group)
- Individual Summary Statement
