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New Rapid Evidence Assessment Toolkit for Government Social Researchers

A new on-line 'Rapid Evidence Assessment Toolkit', produced by the Government Social Research Unit, has been launched.

It will help government social researchers provide timely responses to policy questions according to Chief Government Social Scientist and Head of the Government Social Research service (GSR) Professor Paul Wiles.

An increasingly useful methodology, Rapid Evidence Assessments (REAs) can provide quick summaries of what is already known about a policy or practice. Although it uses systematic review methods to search and appraise literature and other sources of information, REAs differ from systematic reviews in that the extent of the search is guided by time and resource constraints.

Shortening the process in this way necessarily limits the comprehensiveness of the searching and other review stages. Professor Wiles believes that an understanding of these limitations, being transparent about them, and knowing when an REA is a viable option are key to its proper use by social researchers. Commenting on the launch he said:

“The policy process cannot always wait a year or more for reliable social research input in the form of systematic review. REAs are not a panacea, but if used appropriately it can usefully balance rigour with speed in providing answers. We have developed the Toolkit to provide researchers with necessary guidance on REAs and I firmly believe that researchers and policy makers alike will see the benefits.”

Developed and written by GSR members and the Institute of Education’s EEPI-Centre (Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre), the Toolkit covers themes including when to use REAs, planning, carrying out and commissioning REAs, and communicating findings.

The Rapid Evidence Assessment Toolkit can be found at www.gsr.gov.uk [External website]. For more information contact Jonathan Webb at GSRU on 0207 270 5356 (jonathan.webb@hm-treasury.x.gsi.gov.uk).