Reviews
The Matrix reviews team supplies a comprehensive range of research synthesis products to summarise the evidence you need to answer your research question(s):
- What works best?
- What is most cost-effective?
- What are people’s views and experiences?
- How can it be improved?
Our range of products use systematic and robust processes to:
- Search through the full range of available evidence;
- Select studies that best answer your research questions;
- Extract the relevant information; and
- Synthesise the evidence in a succinct manner.
As an end product, you will receive a ‘1:3:25’ report, which includes a 1-page summary of the key implications from the evidence; a 3-page executive summary of the project; and a 25-page report with details of the methodology, findings and conclusions. Technical details about the methods used are reported in an appendix.
Why commission a literature review or evidence synthesis from Matrix? We provide: »
- An overview of the available evidence;
- Clear implications for what the evidence means to your organisation;
- Conclusions on which you can base informed decisions;
- Support for your policy decision.
We deliver high quality work on time tailoring each research synthesis product to meet the needs of our clients. We deliver work for policy makers, arm’s length bodies, charities, academic centres and organisations that want to inform policy.
We offer bespoke products that best address your needs and available resources. Contact our team to find out what we can do for you.
Rapid Overview Review
The aim of a rapid overview is to provide a quick summary of the evidence in a particular topic. Our experienced researchers identify and select a limited number of key studies that can provide an overview on a particular topic. We collect data from the abstracts of studies and summarise this quickly with no statistical analysis or objective evaluation of the quality of the study itself.
Best Evidence Review
The aim of a Best Evidence review is to provide you with a fast and objective overview of the best research available on a particular topic. We use explicit methods to identify and select the studies that best answer your question. We also systematically collect and analyse data from these key studies, at a level of detail appropriate to the timescale of the project.
Rapid Evidence Assessment
The aim of a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) is to provide you with the main elements that contribute to the robustness of systematic review, but with less duplication of tasks so that the review is completed in a shorter timeframe. We focus on identifying the published studies on the topic, with double-checking of the initial work of the team at each stage to ensure a consistent approach. We use systematic and explicit methods to identify and select studies from a broad range of databases and sources, collect and analyse data from the full texts of the included studies, and critically appraise the relevant research.
Full Systematic Review
A systematic review uses systematic and explicit methods to identify and select studies. We use transparent processes to critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyse data from the full texts of the included studies.
The aim of a systematic review is to provide you with confidence that all the available evidence has been selected for the review, with minimal bias in how data is extracted and reported. You can use the review to make robust and defensible policy decisions.
