This review protocol guides the review of studies that do not fall under the umbrella of a more specific review protocol. It should be used for the review of studies that were not identified through a literature search defined by another protocol (e.g. topic area protocols for reviewing studies for intervention reports and review protocols for identifying evidence-based recommendations for practice guides). This review protocol is used in conjunction with the WWC Procedures and Standards Handbook (version 3.0).

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews are designed to provide education practitioners and policymakers with timely and objective assessments of the quality of research evidence. WWC reviews focus primarily on studies of the effectiveness of education or school-based interventions serving students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade (PK–12), as well as students in postsecondary (PS) settings. However, in some instances, they might focus on studies of interventions serving other groups, such as teachers or other school leaders.

All WWC reviews are governed by a review protocol that describes the procedures that will be followed when conducting the review. When a study has been identified through a literature search defined by another WWC protocol, the review is guided by that protocol. However, the WWC also reviews studies that have been identified through other means, and this protocol guides those reviews.