The benefits and challenges of using systematic reviews in international development research

Journal of Development Effectiveness

Volumn 4, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 445-455

  Mallett, Richard ^a   Hagen Zanker, Jessica ^a   Slater, Rachel ^a   Duvendack, Maren ^a  

^a OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

evidence based policymaking; international development research; systematic reviews

Indexed keywords

ASSESSMENT METHOD; DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; POLICY MAKING;

EID: 84866711932     PISSN: 19439342     EISSN: 19439407     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/19439342.2012.711342     Document Type: Article

References (24)

1. Boaz, A., Ashby, A. and Young, K. 2002. Systematic reviews: what have they got to offer evidence based policy and practice?, London: UK Centre for Evidence Based Policy and Practice. Working Paper 2
2. DFID, 2011. Feature: systematic reviews in international development: an initiative to strengthen evidence-informed policy making [online]. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/SystematicReviewFeature.asp(Accessed: 22 September 2011).
3. Dixon-Woods, M. and Fitzpatrick, R., 2001. Qualitative research in systematic reviews. British medical journal [online], 323 (7316), 765-766. http://www.bmj.com/content/323/7316/765.short (http://www.bmj.com/content/323/7316/765.short) (Accessed: 11 September 2011).
4. Duvendack, M., 2010. Smoke and mirrors: evidence from microfinance impact evaluations in India and Bangladesh. Thesis (PhD). University of East Anglia. https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/19437/1/Maren_Duvendack_Smoke_and_Mirrors_PhD_Sept2010.pdf (Accessed: 11 September 2011).
5. Duvendack, M. and Palmer-Jones, R. 2011. High noon for microfinance impact evaluations: re-investigating the evidence from Bangladesh, Norwich: The School of International Development, University of East Anglia. Working Paper 27, DEV Working Paper Series
6. Duvendack, M. 2011. What is the evidence of the impact of microfinance on the well-being of poor people?, London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London.
7. Duvendack, M. 2012. Assessing 'what works' in international development: issues and methods of risk of bias and meta-analysis in development interventions. Journal of development effectiveness., 4(3): 456-471.
8. Evans, J. and Benefield, P. 2001. Systematic reviews of educational research: does the medical model fit?. British education research journal, 27(5): 527-541.
9. Gough, D. and Elbourne, D. 2002. Systematic research synthesis to inform policy, practice and democratic debate. Social policy and society, 1(3): 225-236.
10. Gough, D., Oliver, S. and Thomas, J. 2012. "Moving forward". In Introduction to systematic reviews, Edited by: Gough, D., Oliver, S. and Thomas, J. London: Sage.
11. Hagen-Zanker, J., McCord, A. and Holmes, R. 2011. The impact of employment guarantee schemes and cash transfers on the poor, ODI systematic review.
12. Hagen-Zanker, J., et al., 2012. Making systematic reviews work for international development research [online]. Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium Briefing Paper 1. www.odi.org.uk/slrc(Accessed: 9 January 2012).
13. Holmes, R., McCord, A. and Hagen-Zanker, J. 2012. What is the evidence of the impact of employment creation on (a) stability and (b) poverty reduction in fragile states?, ODI systematic review.
14. Lichtenstein, A.H., Yetley, E.A. and Lau, J. 2008. Application of systematic review methodology to the field of nutrition. Journal of nutrition, 138: 2297-2306.
15. Pawson, R. and Tilley, N. 1997. Realistic evaluation, London: Sage.
16. Petticrew, M. 2001. Systematic reviews from astronomy to zoology: myths and misconceptions. British medical journal, 322(7278): 98-101.
17. Petticrew, M. and Roberts, H. 2006. Systematic reviews in the social sciences: a practical guide, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
18. SLRC (Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium). 2012. The impacts of five development interventions in fragile and conflict-affected situations, SLRC systematic review.
19. Snilstveit, B. and Waddington, H., 2012. Systematic reviews: let's work out the kinks [online], 3ie. http://www.3ieimpact.org/(Accessed: 9 January 2012).
20. Spencer, L. 2003. Quality in qualitative evaluation: a framework for assessing research evidence, London: National Centre for Social Research.
21. The PLoS Medicine Editors. 2011. Best practice in systematic reviews: the importance of protocols and registration. PLoS medicine, 8: 2
22. Thomas, J. 2004. Integrating qualitative research with trials in systematic reviews. British medical journal, 328: 1010-1012.
23. Vaessen, J. forthcoming. The effects of microcredit on women's control over household spending in developing countries, 3ie systematic review.
24. van der Knaap, L.M. 2008. Combining Campbell standard and the realist evaluation approach: the best of two worlds?. American journal of evaluation, 29(1): 48-57.