Do Cochrane Reviews Provide a Good Model for Social Science? The Role of Observational Studies in Systematic Reviews

Fuente: ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
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Main Authors: Konnerup, Merete, Kongsted, Hans Christian
Format: Recurso educativo Open Access
Language:en
Published: 2012
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author Konnerup, Merete
Kongsted, Hans Christian
author_facet Konnerup, Merete
Kongsted, Hans Christian
Konnerup, Merete
Kongsted, Hans Christian
collection Education Resources Information Center
contents Do Cochrane Reviews Provide a Good Model for Social Science? The Role of Observational Studies in Systematic Reviews Konnerup, Merete Kongsted, Hans Christian Literature Reviews Evidence Based Practice Social Science Research Public Health Primary Health Care Intervention Evaluation Criteria Randomized Controlled Trials Observation Validity Policy Formalised research synthesis to underpin evidence-based policy and practice has become increasingly important in areas of public policy. In this paper we discuss whether the Cochrane standard for systematic reviews of healthcare interventions is appropriate for social research. We examine the formal criteria of the Cochrane Collaboration for including particular study designs and search the Cochrane Library to provide quantitative evidence on the de facto standard of actual Cochrane reviews. By identifying the sample of Cochrane reviews that consider observational designs, we are able to conclude that the majority of reviews appears limited to considering randomised controlled trials only. Because recent studies have delineated conditions for observational studies in social research to produce valid evidence, we argue that an inclusive approach is essential for truly evidence-based policy and practice in regard to social interventions.
format Recurso educativo Open Access
id eric_EJ1131577
institution ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
language en
publishDate 2012
record_format eric
spellingShingle Do Cochrane Reviews Provide a Good Model for Social Science? The Role of Observational Studies in Systematic Reviews
Konnerup, Merete
Kongsted, Hans Christian
Literature Reviews
Evidence Based Practice
Social Science Research
Public Health
Primary Health Care
Intervention
Evaluation Criteria
Randomized Controlled Trials
Observation
Validity
Policy
Do Cochrane Reviews Provide a Good Model for Social Science? The Role of Observational Studies in Systematic Reviews Konnerup, Merete Kongsted, Hans Christian Literature Reviews Evidence Based Practice Social Science Research Public Health Primary Health Care Intervention Evaluation Criteria Randomized Controlled Trials Observation Validity Policy Formalised research synthesis to underpin evidence-based policy and practice has become increasingly important in areas of public policy. In this paper we discuss whether the Cochrane standard for systematic reviews of healthcare interventions is appropriate for social research. We examine the formal criteria of the Cochrane Collaboration for including particular study designs and search the Cochrane Library to provide quantitative evidence on the de facto standard of actual Cochrane reviews. By identifying the sample of Cochrane reviews that consider observational designs, we are able to conclude that the majority of reviews appears limited to considering randomised controlled trials only. Because recent studies have delineated conditions for observational studies in social research to produce valid evidence, we argue that an inclusive approach is essential for truly evidence-based policy and practice in regard to social interventions.
title Do Cochrane Reviews Provide a Good Model for Social Science? The Role of Observational Studies in Systematic Reviews
topic Literature Reviews
Evidence Based Practice
Social Science Research
Public Health
Primary Health Care
Intervention
Evaluation Criteria
Randomized Controlled Trials
Observation
Validity
Policy
url https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1131577