Evidence Mapping
Create visual representations of research landscapes to identify gaps, prioritize research, and inform strategic decisions.
What is Evidence Mapping?
Evidence mapping:
- Systematically identifies existing research
- Creates visual evidence representations
- Highlights gaps and opportunities
- Informs research prioritization
- Supports funding decisions
When to Use
Ideal For
- Research funders: Identifying investment priorities
- Research institutions: Strategic planning
- Policy makers: Understanding evidence base
- Industry: R&D prioritization
- Academics: Identifying research opportunities
Mapping Approaches
Bubble Maps
Visual displays where:
- Position shows categories
- Size indicates evidence volume
- Color reflects quality/certainty
- Gaps appear as empty spaces
Heat Maps
Matrix visualizations:
- Rows: Populations or interventions
- Columns: Outcomes or comparisons
- Color intensity: Evidence amount
- White cells: Research gaps
Geographic Maps
When location matters:
- Study locations displayed
- Regional gaps identified
- Global distribution shown
Temporal Maps
Evidence over time:
- Publication trends
- Topic evolution
- Methodology changes
EvidAI Mapping Features
Interactive Visualizations
- Click to explore
- Filter dynamically
- Zoom and pan
- Export views
Automated Gap Analysis
AI identifies:
- Under-researched areas
- Population gaps
- Outcome gaps
- Methodology needs
Priority Scoring
Gaps ranked by:
- Clinical importance
- Research feasibility
- Existing interest
- Potential impact
Evidence Mapping Workflow
Phase 1: Framework Development
- Define dimensions (PICO elements)
- Create categorization scheme
- Establish boundaries
- Plan visualization approach
Phase 2: Evidence Identification
- Comprehensive search
- Broad inclusion
- All study types considered
Phase 3: Categorization
- Code studies to framework
- AI-assisted classification
- Multiple category assignment
- Theme identification
Phase 4: Visualization
- Generate visual displays
- Configure interactivity
- Identify patterns
- Highlight gaps
Phase 5: Analysis & Reporting
- Gap analysis summary
- Priority recommendations
- Future research suggestions
- Stakeholder presentation
Deliverables
Evidence mapping produces:
- ✅ Framework documentation
- ✅ Search strategy
- ✅ Interactive evidence map
- ✅ Gap analysis report
- ✅ Priority recommendations
- ✅ Exportable visualizations
- ✅ Stakeholder presentation
Integration with Other Reviews
As Preliminary Step
Evidence mapping can precede:
- Systematic reviews (scope assessment)
- Scoping reviews (theme identification)
- Research proposals (gap justification)
As Standalone Product
Valuable for:
- Research prioritization
- Funding allocation
- Strategic planning
Best Practices
Framework Design
- Engage stakeholders early
- Use established categorizations
- Allow for iteration
- Plan for updates
Visualization
- Choose appropriate format
- Keep displays clear
- Enable exploration
- Export for sharing