Evidence Gap Maps - a Tool for Promoting Evidence-Informed Policy and Prioritizing Future Research

34 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Birte Snilstveit

Birte Snilstveit

International Initiative for Impact Evaluation

Martina Vojtkova

International Initiative for Impact Evaluation

Ami Bhavsar

International Initiative for Impact Evaluation

Marie Gaarder

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); World Bank

Date Written: December 1, 2013

Abstract

Evidence-gap maps present a new addition to the tools available to support evidence-informed policy making. Evidence-gap maps are thematic evidence collections covering a range of issues such as maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and agriculture. They present a visual overview of existing systematic reviews or impact evaluations in a sector or subsector, schematically representing the types of interventions evaluated and outcomes reported. Gap maps enable policy makers and practitioners to explore the findings and quality of the existing evidence and facilitate informed judgment and evidence-based decision making in international development policy and practice. The gap map also identifies key "gaps" where little or no evidence from impact evaluations and systematic reviews is available and where future research should be focused. Thus, gap maps can be a useful tool for developing a strategic approach to building the evidence base in a particular sector. This paper provides an introduction to evidence-gap maps, outlines the gap-map methodology, and presents some examples.

Keywords: Health Monitoring & Evaluation, Information Security & Privacy, E-Business, International Terrorism & Counterterrorism, Science Education

Suggested Citation

Snilstveit, Birte and Vojtkova, Martina and Bhavsar, Ami and Gaarder, Marie, Evidence Gap Maps - a Tool for Promoting Evidence-Informed Policy and Prioritizing Future Research (December 1, 2013). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 6725, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2367606

Birte Snilstveit (Contact Author)

International Initiative for Impact Evaluation ( email )

1625 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Suite 450
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Martina Vojtkova

International Initiative for Impact Evaluation ( email )

1625 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Suite 450
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Ami Bhavsar

International Initiative for Impact Evaluation ( email )

1625 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Suite 450
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Marie Gaarder

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

1300 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20577
United States

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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