Use and Impacts of Campbell Systematic Reviews on Policy, Practice, and Research

Aim: This study examines use and impacts of systematic reviews produced by the Campbell Collaboration's Social Welfare Coordinating Group (SWCG) on practice, policy, and research. Methods: A mixed-method research design was used to examine impacts of 52 systematic reviews published by the SWCG. We conducted author surveys and retrieved multiple sources of bibliometric data. Results: Campbell SWCG reviews were downloaded 136,356 times and cited 3,184 times. Most reviews did not receive significant attention in alternative outlets (i.e., social media). Review authors provided evidence that reviews were used directly to make changes in policy or practice or inform future research. Discussion: Assessing the use and impacts of research is challenging. While downloads and citations provide evidence that these reviews receive attention, it was more difficult to determine the extent to which the reviews were used to impact practice or policy. More work is needed to better track and assess impacts of Campbell reviews.