Evidence Check
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Evidence Check
Evidence Check is a means of assisting organisations to gather the best and most relevant research evidence to inform their policy making and program development. Using Evidence Check, the Sax Institute can facilitate a review of existing research and evidence tailored to the individual needs of an agency. Evidence Check reviews are concise summaries of evidence that answer your spcific questions and can be completed in a short time period.
Evidence Check reviews can provide the following information, depending on your needs;
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What evidence exists in relation to your program or policy area.
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Whether there are any gaps in this evidence.
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The researcher's opinion on the quality of the evidence, that is, whether or not it is reliable.
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The researcher's opinion, in light of the evidence, as to what might work best and/or be the most cost effective in your setting, that is, what might be the best buys for your program.
The Evidence Check process consists of the following elements:
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Analysis of research need. This is done with the assistance of the Evidence Check commissioning tool. This is a questionnaire that is completed by the commissioning agency to assist in clarifying research questions and the type of review to be commissioned.
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The Knowledge Brokering process. This is a process whereby the Sax Institute provides an experienced knowledge broker to discuss the completed Evidence Check commissioning tool with the commissioning agency to identify and clarify the policy issues and translate them into researchable questions.
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Brokering and commissioning the review. As a result of the knowledge brokering process, the Sax Institute is able to identify the relevant field from which to seek an experienced researcher who is available to undertake the review within the necessary timeframe.
Why Use Evidence Check?
Evidence Check has several advantages over either commissioning reviews directly, or undertaking reviews in-house:
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The knowledge brokering process of identifying, discussing and clarifying the policy issues and translating them into researchable questions reduces the likelihood that commissioned reviews address the wrong questions or provide irrelevant information
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The Sax Institute has a network of highly qualified and experienced researchers as part of the RADAR database. Researchers are selected based on their track record of high quality research
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Researchers are provided with guidelines to assist them to draft reviews in a standard policy friendly format, which includes a short executive summary, appropriate page limits, and appropriate language for the policy audience.
Information about Evidence Check for policy agencies and clients who are interested in commissioning reviews is available here.
Knowledge Brokers are individuals with extensive policy and research experience who function as an interface between the policy agencies and researchers.
The Sax Institute has a team of knowledge brokers, who have been specifically trained to translate policy makers requirements for evidence into research-amenable, policy-relevant questions.
To use our Knowledge Brokering service please contact the Program Coordinator.
RADAR
RADAR (Researcher Accessible Database for the Allocation of Reviews) is a register of national and international experts in population health and health services research who have agreed to undertake Evidence Check reviews for the Sax Institute.
RADAR was developed by the Sax Institute as a mechanism to assist in brokering new research studies and reviews of research by enabling the rapid identification of the appropriate research experts.
Researchers with relevant expertise can inquire about being listed in RADAR by;
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Completing the online RADAR registration form to identify your research expertise
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Clicking the 'Submit by Email' button at the bottom of the form
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Attaching a current CV to the email before sending
Note that any information you submit will be used only for the purposes of RADAR and will not be publicly available.
Further information
For more information about Evidence Check, or to inquire about commissioning a review please email the Sax Institute or phone the Knowledge Transfer Program team on 02 9514 5968.