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The Method Book
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1
Evidence Review

Introduction

Chapter

1

Evidence Review

A key tool within the BehaviourWorks Method is the evidence review. These reviews gives us a better understanding of the problem under investigation, what others around the world have done to address it and ensure we make evidence-informed decisions moving forward.

Connecting research knowledge to practice

The challenge of understanding and influencing human behaviour has been the focus of decades of applied psychology research and other forms of scientific enquiry. Knowledge from this research can add considerable value to problem-solving by illuminating potential solutions and, just as importantly, flagging areas where investment may be wasted on strategies that have failed elsewhere. This chapter outlines how research reviews can assemble this knowledge and make it useful to policymakers and other leaders who need to make decisions and take action to solve problems.

Further resources

Influences, further reading and blog posts related to this chapter. 

Google searches are no substitute for systematic reviews when it comes to policymaking

In this opinion piece, published in The Mandarin, A/Prof Peter Bragge discusses the fact that few policymakers and decision-makers use systematic reviews to respond to complex challenges. Instead, they rely on Google searches, hoping that something useful will turn up amongst an estimated 6.19 billion web pages.

Ten ways to optimize evidence-based policy

The exponential rise in knowledge availability has greatly enhanced the ‘supply’ side of the evidence-into-practice equation – however, substantial gaps between evidence and practice remain.

Blog post

Behaviour change 101 series: How to do a Rapid Review

A practical guide on how to use Rapid Reviews to gather evidence for better decision-making.
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Blog post

Behaviour change 101 series: How to do a Practice Review

Practice Reviews seek to capture and collate insights from those who have direct experience in or of the problem under investigation. Their insights can help us identify optimum behaviours and/or audiences to target.
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Blog post

Social Systems Evidence

An important new initiative of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and McMaster University, SSE will give decision-makers clearer evidence of 'what works' in addressing the SDGs.
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Research

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BehaviourWorks offers a broad range of research services to government and non-government organisations.

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