Links to other sites
Other Relevant Sites
Our site is concerned with the use of secondary studies in software engineering to produce better quality information regarding software engineering practices. Most of our practices were initially derived from those already used in other disciplines, although many have subsequently been refined as experience has accumulated. This page provides some links to resources used in other disciplines as well as some that are specific to software engineering.
The Cochrane Collaboration
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international not-for-profit and independent organization, dedicated to making up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of healthcare readily available worldwide. It produces and disseminates systematic reviews of healthcare interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. A major source of methodological guidance and experience, the Cochrane Collaboration was founded in 1993 and named after the British epidemiologist, Archie Cochrane.
Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD)
CRD undertakes systematic reviews evaluating the research evidence on health and public health questions of national and international importance. The findings of CRD reviews are widely disseminated and have impacted on key areas of policy making and on the quality of health care delivered. CRD provides methodological guidance and acts as a repository for systematic reviews.
EPPI-Centre
The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre) is part of the Social Science Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London. Since 1993, we have been at the forefront of carrying out research synthesis and developing review methods in social science and public policy. We are dedicated to making reliable research findings accessible to the people who need them, whether they are making policy, practice or personal decisions. A source of tools for use in conducting systematic reviews.
The Campbell Collaboration
C2 offers excellent editorial and methodological support to authors of systematic reviews. All authors benefit from the contributions of C2’s editors, librarians, methodologists and external peer-reviewers throughout the review development process. The Collaboration is largely a voluntary organization that welcomes newcomers from around the world, irrespective of professional or disciplinary background.
Systematic Review Toolbox
Currently maintained by researchers in the Universities of York, Newcastle and Sheffield, this web site provides an “online catalogue of tools that support various tasks within the systematic review and wider evidence synthesis process”.
INASP
INASP is an international development organization with over 30 years’ experience of working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. They provide a training course for evidence-informed policy. It’s available at https://www.inasp.info/publications/evidence-informed-policy-making-eipm-toolkit. Although it’s aimed at developing countries its got some very useful ideas for defining evidence-informed policy, explaining what evidence is, assessing the quality of evidence, and reporting results of searches. While its focus is upon policy-making, it does include some interesting ideas about gathering evidence in practical situations.
This page was last updated in September 2024.