Rapid Evidence Assessments (REA) provide high-quality evidence in a timely and cost-effective manner. This guide has been prepared to give people a feel for the entire review process, to inform their tender document, and help them ask searching questions of the review teams - to create a final review that balances rapidity and rigour.

This review synthesises empirical and theoretical studies about groups engaging with highly technical information and applying clear and efficient processes that take into account diversity of membership in order to make collective decisions.

This guide is a short introduction for decision-makers and researchers or anyone else considering whether a systematic review may be appropriate to fill a gap in knowledge or to use as a resource.