End user testing of an open-access database of research syntheses: the Environmental Evidence Database of Research Syntheses

对于任何企业来说，做出最佳行动方案的决策都应该以可获得的最佳证据为依据。英国商界被要求将可持续发展和环境影响问题纳入决策，作为向更绿色经济转型的一部分(http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/economy).在目前的情况下，由于缺乏共同和可靠的证据基础来获得决策支持和就最佳做法达成共识，这一点受到了阻碍。在竞争激烈的世界里，重要的是商业决策必须建立在可靠的证据基础上，其特点是组装严谨、透明和客观。最重要的是，证据基础必须是综合的，并包括与决策者的证据需求有关的问题的所有可用初步研究。在环境管理中，支持政策决策的证据基础尚处于起步阶段，最佳可用证据的综合并不是现成的。该项目将开发和测试一个开放获取的研究综合(证据综合)数据库。该数据库将列出为评估关于环境管理的政策或实际相关性这一具体问题的证据而进行的综合。该数据库将根据政府、非政府组织和私营部门决策者/最终用户的需要，提供关于综合的可靠性和透明度的信息。我们将与一组最终用户合作，并通过确定代表其证据需求的示例的主题领域来试行数据库格式。然后，将确定现有的研究综述，并对其作为最佳可用证据来源的可靠性进行批判性评估。基于网络的产品将提交给最终用户组，供他们反馈和修改，为从试点系统扩展到功能齐全的系统做准备。

For any business, making decisions on the best course of action should be informed by the best available evidence. The UK business sector is asked to integrate issues of sustainability and environmental impact into their decision-making as part of a transition to a greener economy (http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/economy). In current circumstances this is inhibited by the absence of a shared and reliable evidence base from which to draw decision-making support and develop consensus on best practice. In a competitive world it will be important for business decisions to be based on a reliable evidence-base characterized by rigour in assembly , transparency and objectivity. Most importantly the evidence base will need to be synthetic and inclusive of all available primary research related to a question relevant to evidence needs of the decision makers. In environmental management, the evidence base supporting policy decisions is incipient and syntheses of the best available evidence are not readily available. This project will develop and test an open-access database of research syntheses (evidence syntheses). The database will list syntheses conducted to assess evidence on a specific question of policy or practical relevance in environmental management. The database will provide information on the reliability and transparency of the syntheses, tailored to the needs of decision makers/end users in government, non-government and private sectors. We will work with a group of end users and pilot the database format by identifying a subject area that represents an example of their evidence needs. Existing research syntheses will then be identified and critically appraised for their reliability as a source of the best available evidence. The web-based product will be presented to the end-user group for their feedback and modifications made in preparation for expansion from a pilot to a fully functional system.