1
Define the Scope
Research on education covers a wide range of topics, interventions, and outcomes. Prior to any review, we develop a formal review protocol to define the parameters for the research to be included within the scope of the review, the literature search, and any area-specific applications of the evidence standards.
2
Search the Literature
We gather studies through a comprehensive search of published and unpublished publicly available research literature, including submissions from distributors/developers, researchers, and the public. We also use the parameters set by the protocol to search relevant electronic databases and websites.
3
Assess the Research
The core of the systematic review process is the assessment of individual studies. The process is designed to ensure that the standards are applied correctly and that each study is represented accurately. We screen studies for eligibility, and then review every study meeting eligibility screens against WWC evidence standards. The result of this process is that each study receives a study rating of Meets Evidence Standards without Reservations, Meets Evidence Standards with Reservations, or Does Not Meet Evidence Standards, that relates to the amount of confidence we place in the ability of the study to demonstrate causal evidence of the effectiveness of an intervention. We subsequently use the findings from studies meeting standards in evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention.
4
Combine the Findings
In many of our products, we combine findings from individual studies into summary measures of effectiveness, including those describing the magnitude of findings, the amount of supporting evidence, and the ability to generalize findings.
5
Summarize the Review
We present the findings from our reviews in a variety of formats. Practice guides contain practical recommendations for educators to address challenges in their classrooms and schools. Intervention reports assess all studies of a specific intervention within a topic area. Along with these two summary products, we have two types of reports focusing on individual studies. Single study reviews provide an in-depth examination of the research quality of one study, while quick reviews give our snapshot assessment of recent education research.