Innovation Plan

profileKensaynelson1106
WGULevelsofEvidence.docx

WGU Levels of Evidence

7 Level Model for Rating Evidence

Strength of Evidence 

Evidence Hierarchy

Types of Studies

Level I

· Meta-analysis

· Systematic Review

· Integrative Review

· National Practice Guideline

· Meta-analyses

· Systematic Reviews

· Integrative Reviews

· National Practice Guidelines

This level includes research designs of Meta-Analyses, Systematic Reviews, Integrative Reviews, National Practice Guidelines (Evidence-based practice guidelines housed in national repositories that were developed from systematic reviews).

Level II

· Randomized Controlled Trial

· Experimental

· Randomized Controlled Trials

· Experimental studies

This level represents evidence from studies using a true experimental design.

Level III

· Quasi-experimental

· Quasi-experimental studies (experiments without randomization)

This level represents evidence obtained from experimental studies without randomization.

Level IV

· Non-experimental

· Retrospective

· Case control

· Cross-sectional

· Cohort-comparison

· Prospective

· Descriptive

· Correlational single studies

This level represents evidence from well-designed non-experimental studies such as retrospective, case-control, cross-sectional, cohort comparison, prospective, descriptive, and correlational single studies.

Level V

· Meta-synthesis

· Meta-syntheses

This level represents evidence from systematic reviews of studies using qualitative methods.

Level VI

· Single Qualitative Study

· Qualitative studies

This level represents single studies using a qualitative research method.

Level VII

· Expert Opinion

· Narrative Reviews

· Quality Improvement Projects

· Case Studies

· Reports from expert committees

· Opinions from experts

· Specialist opinions

· Editorials

· Scoping Reviews

This level represents a variety of non-research-based evidence and generally includes reports from expert committees and/or opinions of authorities on the subject. The evidence in this level includes specialists’ opinions, case studies, practice guidelines, narrative reviews, editorials, regulations, legislation, program outcome data, quality improvement projects, and scoping reviews.

For additional information refer to D031: Advancing Evidence-Based Innovation in Nursing Practice Course of Study, Unit 3. -

Revised Oct2021