LibGuides: DENTHYG 2220: Evaluate Resources

Levels of Evidence

Publication types are ranked in evidence pyramids based on the rigor of evidence provided by the research design. The higher the study design is on the pyramid, the higher the level of evidence. However, this also means there are fewer documents of this type.

High level evidence from the top of the pyramid is preferred, but not always available for all questions. Remember that the type of question you are asking will help determine which types of studies would be most appropriate.

Check out the links below for more information of the different levels of evidence and research study designs.

Study Design 101
From George Washington University. This webpage provides an alternative version of the evidence pyramid. Click each level of the pyramid to see more information about that study design, including a basic definition; pros, cons, and pitfalls of the design; and a glossary of study design terms.
Evidence-Based Medicine Guide
From Georgetown University. This guide provides another view of the evidence pyramid, including thorough descriptions of the different study designs and the types of questions they typically answer.
Research Designs
From University of Oxford - Centre for Evidence Based Intervention (CEBI). This webpage provides additional information about the different research designs that appear in the pyramid of evidence.

Is this Scholarly?

The research evidence integrated in Evidence-Based Practice should come from scholarly sources. If you are unsure whether you are using a scholarly article, the following resources can help.

Video created by University of Washington Libraries. This video is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Distinguishing Scholarly From Non-Scholarly Periodicals Guide
This guide from Cornell University provides an overview of the different types of sources you may come across in your research.

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DENTHYG 2220

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Levels of Evidence

Is this Scholarly?