Curran, Claire, Burchardt, Tania 
ORCID: 0000-0003-4822-4954, Knapp, Martin ORCID: 0000-0003-1427-0215, McDaid, David ORCID: 0000-0003-0744-2664 and Li, Bingqin
(2007)
Challenges in multidisciplinary systematic reviewing: a study on social exclusion and mental health policy.
Social Policy and Administration, 41 (3).
pp. 215-319.
ISSN 0144-5596
Abstract
In the clinical sciences, systematic reviews have proved useful in the aggregation of diverse sources of evidence. They identify, characterize and summate evidence, but these methodologies have not always proved suitable for the social sciences. We discuss some of the practical problems faced by researchers undertaking reviews of complex and cross-disciplinary topics, using the example of mental health and social exclusion. The barriers to carrying out social science and cross-disciplinary reviews are reported and some proposals for overcoming these barriers are made, not all of them tried and tested, and some of them controversial. Using a mapping approach, a wide-ranging search of both clinical and social science databases was undertaken and a large volume of references was identified and characterized. Population sampling techniques were used to manage these references. The challenges encountered include: inconsistent definitions of social phenomena, differing use of key concepts across research fields and practical problems relating to database compatibility and computer processing power. The challenges and opportunities for social scientists or multidisciplinary research teams carrying out reviews are discussed. Literature mapping and systematic reviews are useful tools but methods need to be tailored to optimize their usefulness in the social sciences.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/SPOL |
| Additional Information: | © 2007 Blackwell Publishing |
| Divisions: | Social Policy Care Policy and Evaluation Centre LSE Health |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Feb 2008 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Nov 2024 04:19 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/3294 |
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