This article explores how the evidence base for aspects of early childhood has been
explored using systematic research synthesis methods developed at the Evidence for
Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre). Three early
childhood systematic reviews have been carried out using EPPI-Centre procedures and
tools. The article discusses the principles underlying systematic research
synthesis, the way in which the three reviews were set up, the processes involved in
reviewing studies for the reviews, and the nature and generalizability of the
reviews’ findings.
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