Critical appraisal: Is a systematic framework to assist in interpreting
the quality and relevance of the research process carefully judging its
trustworthiness, and its value and relevance in a particular context? It asks
are the results presented valid. Just because it is scientific or because it is
published is not always a guarantee.
Evaluation: Provides a diverse, flexible and systematic assessment of a set
of procedures exploring service aims, objectives, activities, outcomes and
costs. Unlike audit there is not a defined standard. Audit can however be
one activity that takes place during a service evaluation, alongside other
activities such as routine data gathering, incident reporting and interviews
with staff, service users and carers. Research methods also apply to
evaluations.
Evidence: The available body of facts and information about a particular
topic or subject.
*Evidence based: An intervention or practice which has been robustly
evaluated (usually involving one or more Randomised Control Trial) (RCT).
Other research designs also exist to generate robust evidence for example
prevalence and incidence of social problems and experiences of problems
and care processes including service user and carer perspectives. Evidence
-based* and evidence -informed* are often used interchangeably and are
a matter of preference of terminology rather than an absolute distinction.
See also the definition of evidence -informed.
*Evidence-informed: Knowledge gained from integrating the best
available research and literature with the professional judgement of
practitioners and service user experience. Evidence is the information that
supports or substantiates research findings.
It identifies what makes for effective intervention.
Knowledge: A synthesis of research and theoretical ideas that results in
the interpretation of evidence into a coherent understanding.
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Audit: Provides a method for systematically reflecting
on and reviewing practice. It aims to establish how
close practice is to the desired level of service. This
is achieved by setting standards and targets and
comparing practice against these. Research methods
also have an application to audit.
Glossary