Evidence for Learning: Evidence reviews

Evidence reviews

Evidence-based summaries from the best available research on a specific questions and how it impacts student learning.

Evidence for Learning has commissioned reviews and syntheses to investigate answers to a pre-defined question in a specific area or topic in education. The aim is to provide evidence-based summaries from the best available research on a specific question and how it impacts student learning. 

Building rigorous research on research that have demonstrated evidence of impact on students’ outcomes helps educators and policy makers make informed decisions based on what we know and do not know about what works’, and where more research is needed.

The reviews range from high-quality systematic reviews using the most rigorous available research evidence to draw robust causal evidence from experimental and quasi-experimental designs to rapid reviews of literature on a particular topic.

  • Systematic reviews: A review that uses a rigorous methodology and process to provide the most reliable source of evidence to guide policy and practice. Relevant research that fits pre-specified eligibility criteria are screened and critically appraised to summarise the best available evidence in response to a pre-defined question.
  • Rapid reviews: A type of systematic review that uses components of a systematic review process that are simplified to critically appraise and summarise best available research evidence to investigate a question in a timely manner in response to a specific need.
  • Scoping reviews: A synthesis of a broader review of existing literature and other sources of information from a range of different study designs and methods on a particular topic or research area.

Our reviews include the following projects:

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted educational systems and schools worldwide. Schools across Australia closed, with most students moving to home-supported learning, much of it online.

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), supported by global partners including Evidence for Learning, has conducted and published free and accessible rapid evidence reviews to support schools and parents to make the most of home-supported learning.

The reports are based on rapid reviews of the evidence from existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses on effective approaches and summarise the information on practices used worldwide to support and improve teaching and learning for students.