The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre) has done some work on combining qualitative and quantitative research in systematic reviews (see Thomas et al. In conclusion, systematic reviews are a useful tool to provide an overview of the existing evidence. What are the benefits of systematic reviews? Third, full systematic reviews are expensive: researchers and donors need to consider whether the full application of a rigid systematic review approach is justified in relation to the time and resources required. Empirical impact studies in development studies are not written in a uniform fashion, unlike in the natural and medical sciences or even compared to economics. These will now be discussed in turn. In 1972, Archie Cochrane published a textbook titled “Effectiveness and Efficiency: Random Reflections on Health Service”10. Cochrane drew attention to the vital importance of randomized control trials in determining the effectiveness of health treatments. Donors are under increasing pressure to adopt spending practices that not only generate positive development and humanitarian outcomes, but also represent value for money. This renders meta-analysis or other robust forms of synthesis unfeasible. ... Protocols contain information that defines the health problem and the intervention under investigation, how benefits and harms will be measured, and the type of appropriate study design. This protocol is often peer-reviewed and piloted. The challenges of assessing qualitative evidence, however, could mean that systematic reviews continue to focus more strongly on quantitative studies and measurable outcomes than they would otherwise. Combining Campbell standard and the realist evaluation approach: the best of two worlds? The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) is the leading journal and database for systematic reviews in health care. A detailed search strategy and comprehensive criteria for in- and exclusion of studies are essential to avoid introducing bias and spurious results. The final section concludes, lists specific policy conclusions and suggests a way forward for using systematic reviews in development research. Moreover, SRs also help identify research gaps in our current understanding of a field. Reviews published literature on the social and health benefits of rivers, lakes and coastal waters – referred to collectively as ‘Blue Space’. To minimise the risk of inconsistent screening, the authors piloted the screening process. International development is arguably the latest field to have been introduced to systematic reviews. If you are considering embarking on a systematic review, there are several issues you need to contemplate if you wish to conduct one. Drawing on the authors' first-hand experiences of conducting eight systematic reviews, this article reflects upon the use of systematic reviews in international development research. For those of you who have read Cochrane Reviews you will recognize the all too common bottom line of not enough quality data to make a conclusion and more research is needed. Quality of reviews is improved through transparency, greater breadth of studies included, greater objectivity and reduction of implicit researcher bias, and by encouraging researchers to engage more critically with the quality of evidence. There has been increased interest in the role of cannabis for treating medical conditions. Diagnostic test accuracy reviews assess how well a diagnostic test performs in diagnosing and detecting a particular disease. 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