The basic evidence based research steps are:
- Begin with a problem or issue stated as a question. 1 2
- Plan your search for the levels of evidence you need. 3
- Search for secondary or primary sources and primary evidence. 4 5
- Evaluate your results. 6 7
- Implement your findings. 8 9
- Publish your findings to build the evidence base. 10
About the tool
Enough evidence is needed to guide your decisions and to avoid a quick fix.
Resources to guide an action research plan?
Researching professional literature for an overview of best practices?
Full systematic review of published reports and primary evidence to inform a research study?
Evidence-based practice guidelines issued from a national or state association?
Levels of Evidence range from:
Low: Non-research based evidence (professional opinion or promising best practice)
Middle: Clinical evidence, case studies, case reports
High: clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, meta-analysis
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Researchers decide which level(s) they need to answer their research question.
A researcher decides which evidence level(s) they need.
First level is opinion based on:
- observation
- informal feedback (anecdotal evidence)
- interviews
- surveys
- usage statistics
- transaction logs
- usability testing
- literature review without data
Second level is opinion based on:
- reports
- descriptive study
- case study
- expert observational study
- clinical evidence
Third level is research decision based on:
- expert consensus guidelines
- non-experimental study
- qualitative or quantitative study
- small well designed objective study
- animal research
Fourth level is research judgment based on:
- large sample comparative or quantitative study
- study collecting data analyzing variables
Fifth level is research finding based on:
- small randomized controlled trial (RCT)
- comprehensive literature review with valid recommendations
Sixth level is research conclusion based on:
- large randomized controlled trial (RCT)
- systematic review of RCT
- meta-analysis of systematic literature reviews
- clinical practice guidelines based on synthesis of systematic reviews
Additional information:
CEBM Levels of Evidence 2 http://www.cebm.net/index.aspx?o=5653
To visualize pyramid levels, see Yale Medical Library's EBM Pyramid http://guides.library.yale.edu/content.php?pid=9786&sid=73113 [Note: other links may be restricted to Yale students]