Cited by 113Meta-analysis and systematic reviewsEnvironmental and Social Impact AssessmentsEvaluation and Performance Assessment

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Analyzing cause and effect in environmental assessments: using weighted evidence from the literature

Norris, R. H., Webb, J. A., Nichols, S. J., Stewardson, M. J., Harrison, E. T.·2012·Freshwater Science

DOI 10.1899/11-027.1

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Abstract

Sound decision making in environmental research and management requires an understanding of causal relationships between stressors and ecological responses. However, demonstrating cause–effect relationships in natural systems is challenging because of difficulties with natural variability, performing experiments, lack of replication, and the presence of confounding influences. Thus, even the best-designed study may not establish causality. We describe a method that uses evidence available in the extensive published ecological literature to assess support for cause–effect hypotheses in environmental investigations. Our method, called Eco Evidence, is a form of causal criteria analysis—a technique developed by epidemiologists in the 1960s—who faced similar difficulties in attributing causation. The Eco Evidence method is an 8-step process in which the user conducts a systematic review of the evidence for one or more cause–effect hypotheses to assess the level of support for an overall question. In contrast to causal criteria analyses in epidemiology, users of Eco Evidence use a subset of criteria most relevant to environmental investigations and weight each piece of evidence according to its study design. Stronger studies contribute more to the assessment of causality, but weaker evidence is not discarded. This feature is important because environmental evidence is often scarce. The outputs of the analysis are a guide to the strength of evidence for or against the cause–effect…

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Authors: Norris, R. H., Webb, J. A., Nichols, S. J., Stewardson, M. J., & Harrison, E. T.
Affiliations: University of Canberra (AU)
The University of Melbourne (AU)
Corresponding author: Norris, R. H.
Webb, J. A.
Nichols, S. J.
Stewardson, M. J.
Harrison, E. T.
ORCID: Webb, J. A.
Nichols, S. J.
Stewardson, M. J.
Harrison, E. T.
Venue: Freshwater Science
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 2012-03
Volume: 31
Issue: 1
Pages: 5-21
ISSN: 2161-9549 (ISSN-L)
2161-9565
DOI: 10.1899/11-027.1
OpenAlex: W2127674064
Cited by: 113
References: 63
Citations by year: 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 6
FWCI: 12.42
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Freshwater Science (publishedVersion)
University of Canberra Research Portal (submittedVersion)
BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Environmental and Social Impact Assessments
Social Sciences › Public Administration › Evaluation and Performance Assessment
Keywords: causal inference, causal relationship, evidence synthesis, systematic reviews, quality of evidence, knowledge gaps, environmental management decision-making, evidence-based decision making

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Analyzing cause and effect in environmental assessments: using weighted evidence from the literature

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