As part of the Center for Victim Research’s goal of translating and disseminating victim research as usable information, our team developed a methodology for synthesizing evidence from victimization research and practice. We review what is known about victims’ needs and experiences for various victimization topics and then summarize the results into accessible resources, including research briefs and webinars. As a result, CVR users have a jumping-off point for learning about the evidence behind some of the largest areas of victimization research.
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Process
CVR’s syntheses include the best available practice and contextual evidence in addition to research evidence. The synthesis process begins by defining and setting the scope of the victimization focus and the custom search strategy. In the second step, we implement the search strategy to scan relevant work from organizations, resource centers, and academic databases that meet standard screening criteria. The sources used in our reviews include peer-reviewed journal articles, reports, books, and book chapters. Research evidence sources include working papers and dissertations, and practice evidence sources include meeting or task force minutes, fact sheets, tip sheets, videos, and podcasts.
Once we identify the evidence sources, we assess and record key information, including the victimization type and topics covered, the source’s audience, populations studied, methods, outcomes, and the source’s strengths and limitations. We assess and summarize the research and practice evidence for each victimization topic to realize a shared understanding about prevalence and detection, risk and protective factors, harms and consequences, services and interventions, and research and policy implications. Rigorous evidence is prioritized, and experts review findings to ensure comprehension and accuracy. The content is then disseminated in various accessible formats, including research briefs, full reports, webinars, and conference presentations.