Evidence gap map design worksheet
Agree intervention and outcome categories first. EGM shows evidence distribution and gaps, not conclusions about effects.
Evidence gap map design worksheet
Basic information
Record EGM scope.
Completed example for this section (fictional)
This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.
- Subject area
- Learning support
- Purpose of use
- Select priorities for the next evaluation.
- Period covered
- Provisional range: 2016–2026
- Target area
- Define the target area in advance.
- Prepared by
- Staff member A (fictional)
Reason for this entry: State that this illustrates search scope design.
Writing tips and explanation for this section
About this section
Record EGM scope.
State that this illustrates search scope design.
View the method explanationWriting tips
Follow each field’s heading to record the program name, focus, period, and other details. Leave undecided matters clearly marked as unresolved.
Read the full fictional exampleMatrix design
Design intervention and outcome categories.
Completed example for this section (fictional)
This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.
Scroll horizontally to view the table
| Intervention category | Outcome category | Definition and coverage | Exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport support | Attendance | Indicators of participation or attendance through support | General road construction |
| Individual learning support | Sense of security | Psychological experiences when using learning support | Studies measuring only academic attainment |
Reason for this entry: Distinguish included and excluded studies.
Scroll horizontally to view the table
| Intervention category | Outcome category | Definition and coverage | Exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
Writing tips and explanation for this section
About this section
Design intervention and outcome categories.
Distinguish included and excluded studies.
View the method explanationWriting tips
Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.
Read the full fictional exampleSearch and selection plan
Ensure literature search reproducibility.
Completed example for this section (fictional)
This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.
Scroll horizontally to view the table
| Search source | Search terms | Eligible literature | Exclusion criteria | Search date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic databases and evaluation report websites | Finalize after testing terms such as “learning support AND attendance.” | Evaluation studies within scope | Population, intervention or outcomes outside scope | Not conducted; record at search time |
Reason for this entry: Record the plan without implying a completed search.
Scroll horizontally to view the table
| Search source | Search terms | Eligible literature | Exclusion criteria | Search date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Writing tips and explanation for this section
About this section
Ensure literature search reproducibility.
Record the plan without implying a completed search.
View the method explanationWriting tips
Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.
Read the full fictional exampleGap interpretation notes
Describe evidence-rich and evidence-poor areas and candidates for further evaluation.
Completed example for this section (fictional)
This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.
Reason for this entry: Do not allocate budgets solely on study counts.
Writing tips and explanation for this section
About this section
Describe evidence-rich and evidence-poor areas and candidates for further evaluation.
Do not allocate budgets solely on study counts.
View the method explanationWriting tips
Use the example as a reference and record what you have established about your own program. Distinguish assumptions and unchecked matters from confirmed facts.
Read the full fictional exampleCompletion check
Completed example for this section (fictional)
This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.
- ☑ Checked: Specified scope and exclusions
- ☐ Not checked: Recorded search strategy and dates
- ☑ Checked: Did not confuse absence of evidence with absence of effects
- ☐ Not checked: Discussed additional evaluation priorities with stakeholders
Reason for this entry: Searching and stakeholder prioritization have not yet been conducted.
Writing tips and explanation for this section
About this section
Searching and stakeholder prioritization have not yet been conducted.
View the method explanationWriting tips
Read each item and check those you have confirmed. Do not use the fictional example’s checkbox states as findings about your own program.
Read the full fictional exampleBefore writing, check when to use the worksheet and what completion involves
Evidence gap map design worksheet is a worksheet for applying Evidence Gap Map in meetings or individual work. For the overall duration of the method, use “Planning example, not a universal standard duration: 2–6 weeks for a small map; 2–6 months for a full version” as a reference, adjusting for scale and resources. Fill in what you know provisionally and leave unresolved matters as questions to check next.
When this worksheet is useful
- When seeking an overview of existing evidence in a new program or policy area
- When prioritizing topics for further evaluation or research investment
- When developing an evidence-building strategy in a grant-making foundation, government or research institution
Participants and preparation
Evaluators, literature reviewers, subject specialists and policy staff. Separating search and classification roles improves reliability even for a small map.
Bring the materials used for decisions, existing data, and differing stakeholder views to help complete the worksheet.
Suggested order
- 1. Basic informationRecord EGM scope.
- 2. Matrix designDesign intervention and outcome categories.
- 3. Search and selection planEnsure literature search reproducibility.
- 4. Gap interpretation notesDescribe evidence-rich and evidence-poor areas and candidates for further evaluation.
- 5. Completion check
Signs the worksheet is ready for review
- Evidence Gap Map
- Literature register
- Priorities for further evaluation and research
Cautions for review
- Misreading abundant evidence on the map as proof of effectiveness
- Producing an irreproducible evidence map without documenting the search strategy
- Using excessively detailed categories that practitioners cannot use
Read a completed fictional example (your entries will not change)
A fictional illustrative example with invented study counts to explain the method, not actual papers.
Basic information
- Subject area
- Learning support
- Purpose of use
- Select priorities for the next evaluation.
- Period covered
- Provisional range: 2016–2026
- Target area
- Define the target area in advance.
- Prepared by
- Staff member A (fictional)
Reason for this entry: State that this illustrates search scope design.
Matrix design
Scroll horizontally to view the table
| Intervention category | Outcome category | Definition and coverage | Exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport support | Attendance | Indicators of participation or attendance through support | General road construction |
| Individual learning support | Sense of security | Psychological experiences when using learning support | Studies measuring only academic attainment |
Reason for this entry: Distinguish included and excluded studies.
Search and selection plan
Scroll horizontally to view the table
| Search source | Search terms | Eligible literature | Exclusion criteria | Search date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic databases and evaluation report websites | Finalize after testing terms such as “learning support AND attendance.” | Evaluation studies within scope | Population, intervention or outcomes outside scope | Not conducted; record at search time |
Reason for this entry: Record the plan without implying a completed search.
Gap interpretation notes
Reason for this entry: Do not allocate budgets solely on study counts.
Completion check
- ☑ Checked: Specified scope and exclusions
- ☐ Not checked: Recorded search strategy and dates
- ☑ Checked: Did not confuse absence of evidence with absence of effects
- ☐ Not checked: Discussed additional evaluation priorities with stakeholders
Reason for this entry: Searching and stakeholder prioritization have not yet been conducted.
Common errors in judgment
Judging effectiveness by the number of studies
How to revise: Check designs, quality, populations and effect content separately.
Reason: Counts do not include findings' direction or credibility.
Labeling an empty cell “No effect”
How to revise: Label it “No eligible studies found.”
Reason: An unresearched issue differs from evidence of no effect.
References and checked sections
- Strategic evidence creation and use with evidence and gap mapsCampbell Collaboration · 2018
- Section consulted
- Evidence and gap maps
- How it relates to the text
- Distinguish absence of evidence from absence of effects, and show search scope and study content.
How to cite this page
Change history
- — Checked sources for definitions and applicability conditions, and added fictional examples, reasons for judgments and examples for every worksheet field. Revised unverified claims about history and adoption. Also reviewed existing procedures and cautions, and adjusted fixed participant counts and thresholds and generalizations about institutions.