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

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 61 of the 63 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

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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Research works printed but not linked: 9

  1. DOWNES B. J., Monitoring ecological impacts: concepts and practice in flowing waters, 10.1017/CBO9780511542015 · DOI · Paper page
  2. EVANS A. S., 1976, Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 49, 175
  3. EWATER CRC E)., Eco Evidence: a systematic approach to evaluate causality in environmental science. eWater Cooperative Research Centre
  4. GREENLAND S., Pages 643-673 in K
  5. ROTHMAN K. J., Modern epidemiology
  6. STEVENS A., The effectiveness revolution and public health. Pages 197-225 in G
  7. TUGWELL B., Assessing claims of causation. Pages 356-387 in R
  8. WEBB J. A., MODSIM2011 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation. Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, Australia (in press b).
  9. WEED D. L., 1996, Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, 5, 303

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Metadata

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
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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