# **Appendix 1: Overview of different types of mapping, scoping and synthesis**

|**Methodology**|**Aim/purpose**|**Inclusion**|**Search**|**Critical appraisal**|**Data extraction**|**Analysis**|**Presentation**|**Timeline**|<br>**References**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**3ie gapmap**|To map and visualize the existing<br>an ongoing SR (and IE) evidence<br>in a particular topic area. To inform<br>policy and practice; to inform<br>research planning.|SRs and IEs,<br>some gap maps<br>may only<br>include<br>systematic<br>reviews|Comprehensive<br>and systematic<br>for SRs. More<br>purposive for<br>IEs.|Rigorous Critical<br>appraisal (SRs,<br>may also include<br>critical appraisal<br>of IEs|Intervention, outcome<br>(outcome measure),<br>summary of findings,<br>critical appraisal<br>categories. May be<br>limited to a single person<br>screening and extracting<br>data.|Summary of the<br>quality and quantity of<br>available evidence.<br>Descriptive summary<br>of key findings of<br>systematic reviews.|Visual two-<br>dimensional<br>framework. Links to<br>a database with<br>summaries of the<br>included studies.|2-3<br>months|Gaarder (2010)|
|**Evidence**<br>**map (GEM,**<br>**Headspace)**|To describe the nature,<br>characteristics and volume of<br>research in a particular area; and<br>to identify evidence gaps by<br>comparing the key research<br>questions identified by<br>stakeholders with the available<br>literature.|SRs and<br>primary studies|Comprehensive<br>and systematic.<br>More specific<br>and less<br>sensitive than<br>SR searches.|None|Intervention, study<br>design and detailed<br>study characteristics.*|Summary of identified<br>studies by study<br>design, context,<br>population, condition,<br>and outcomes for<br>each intervention.<br>Often includes a<br>commentary on the<br>evidence base.|GEM: Report<br>summarizing yield<br>(no of studies), with<br>references to<br>relevant studies.<br>Headspace:<br>Database<br>searchable by<br>condition and<br>outcomes.|Not clear<br>(up to 2<br>years)|Parkhill et al.<br>(2011); Bragge<br>et al. (2011);<br>http://www.evide<br>ncemap.org|
|**Scoping**<br>**study**|To examine the extent, range and<br>nature of research activity, identify<br>gaps in the evidence base,<br>determine the value of undertaking<br>a full SR or summarize and<br>disseminate research findings in a<br>particular field of enquiry. To<br>inform policy and practice; to<br>inform research planning.|Determined by<br>research<br>question. All<br>relevant<br>literature<br>includable.|Determined by<br>time and<br>resources<br>available. May<br>be more limited<br>than a SR<br>searches.|None|Determined by research<br>question. Typically study<br>population, intervention,<br>outcome measures,<br>study design; may<br>include findings relating<br>to effectiveness and<br>gaps in research.|An analytic<br>framework, or<br>thematic construction<br>to present a narrative<br>account of existing<br>literature, using<br>descriptive thematic<br>narratives or<br>descriptive summaries<br>of statistical data.|Report. May<br>include tables.|6 months<br>to 1 year|Arksey &<br>O'Malley (2005);<br>Anderson et al.<br>(2008); Davis et<br>al. (2009); Grant<br>et al. (2009);<br>Levac et al.<br>(2010)|
|**Systematic**<br>**map**|To provide a methodical overview<br>of the quantity and quality of<br>evidence in relation to a broad<br>(open) question of policy or<br>management relevance and<br>provide a searchable database of<br>references to be used by various<br>stakeholders Including policy<br>makers, service users,<br>practitioners and researchers.|Determined by<br>research<br>question. All<br>relevant<br>literature<br>includable.|Comprehensive<br>search similar to<br>that conducted<br>for SRs. The<br>choice of<br>sources<br>depends on the<br>topic.|Limited<br>descriptive<br>appraisal. May be<br>limited to a subset<br>or sample of<br>papers when<br>evidence base<br>large.|Determined by research<br>question. For intervention<br>related questions,<br>inclusion criteria focus on<br>PICOs.*|Maps out literature<br>available in various<br>databases. Analysis is<br>limited to showing<br>what literature is<br>available and what the<br>key gaps are. Can be<br>translated into reports,<br>summaries or a<br>database interface.|Report. Can be<br>made available as<br>an online database.<br>Brief summary<br>reports can be<br>produced.|6 months<br>to 1 year|Clapton and<br>Coren (2007);<br>Oakley et al.,<br>(2005); Bates et<br>al (2006; 2008);<br>Peersman<br>(1996)|

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