Introduction
Research Questions
- How does a program or service move through the review process?
- What influences the time it takes to review a program or service?
- How can study authors and program or service developers help support the review process?
The Prevention Services Clearinghouse conducts objective, independent, and transparent reviews of research on programs and services intended to provide enhanced support to children and families and prevent foster care placements. This Fact Sheet provides an overview of how a program or service moves through the Clearinghouse’s systematic review process and identifies possible detours that can influence the review process timeline. This Fact Sheet has been updated to reflect the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0.
Purpose
The Fact Sheet aims to (1) describe factors that influence the Clearinghouse review process timeline and (2) identify steps that study authors and program or service developers can take to help ensure a timely review process.
Citation
Jackson, C., Wilson, S. J., & Glenn, M. (2024). The Review Process: Navigating Timeline Challenges, Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0, OPRE Report 2024-XXX, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Glossary
- Comparison group:
- A set of services that differ in some way from the intervention condition offered to study participants (inclusive of conditions that do not offer any planned services or delay offers of services).
- Outcome:
- An outcome is a behavior, skill, condition, or other characteristic that is measured to assess the impact of a program or service. Outcomes can be measured at pre-test, post-test, or over longer follow-up periods.
- Study:
- One research investigation of a defined subject sample, and the interventions, measures, and statistical analyses applied to that sample. Sometimes study results are reported in more than one document, or a single document reports results from separate studies.