What is an Evidence Table?
What is an Evidence Table?
Evidence tables are structured summaries of data extracted from multiple research studies. They transform complex findings into organized, comparable formats that support systematic reviews and meta-analyses by enabling side-by-side comparison of study characteristics, methods, and results.
Core Components
Most evidence tables include:
- Study Identification: Author, year, title, journal, and location
- Study Characteristics: Design (RCT, cohort, etc.), sample size, duration, and funding
- Participants: Demographics, inclusion criteria, and baseline characteristics
- Interventions: Treatment details, dosages, and control groups (for intervention studies)
- Outcomes: Primary/secondary measures, definitions, and assessment methods
- Results: Effect sizes, confidence intervals, and adverse events
- Quality Assessment: Risk of bias ratings and methodological quality scores
Types and Benefits
Types include:
- Descriptive tables (study characteristics)
- Results tables (outcome data)
- Quality assessment tables (risk of bias)
- Combined tables (comprehensive summaries)
Benefits:
- Enable systematic comparison across studies
- Facilitate transparent, reproducible data extraction
- Support critical appraisal and quality assessment
- Streamline pattern identification and decision-making
Creating Effective Evidence Tables
To create useful evidence tables:
- Start with your research question - Design backwards from your planned analysis to ensure the table supports meaningful comparisons
- Read your studies first - Understand the landscape before committing to columns
- Structure systematically - Include study characteristics, demographics, and comparable outcomes
- Standardize data - Use consistent terminology and harmonize units across studies
- Present clearly - Use formatting that enhances readability and supports your analysis goals
For a detailed workflow on analysis-driven table design, see: Analysis-Driven Design of Evidence Tables.
Modern Evidence Tables
Digital tools are transforming evidence tables with interactive features, automated data extraction, and collaborative capabilities. Platforms like Evidence Table Builder streamline the creation process, making evidence synthesis more efficient and reproducible. Learn how to maximize EvidenceTableBuilder specifically for systematic literature reviews: How Best to Use EvidenceTableBuilder for Systematic Literature Reviews
Evidence tables remain essential for systematic reviews, enabling researchers to organize complex data, facilitate critical analysis, and communicate findings transparently in our evidence-based world.