What works? Why? In what context? A methodological proposal for policy evaluation through mixed and sequential systematic review

Abstract

This paper proposes a systematic review protocol for policy evaluation. The protocol's innovation lies in combining mixed and sequential features: mixed, in that it emphasizes the integration of different study types within the review; sequential, in that it structures this integration into complementary stages, avoiding the conventional hierarchization that tends to leave important aspects of how policies function in the background. The result is a guide for more complete evaluations of policies and interventions, which can be presented at different levels of complexity, whether in a more detailed form for the academic community or synthesized into a "toolbox" better suited to informing policy formulation and implementation, or to disseminating results. Beyond the conceptual discussion and description of the methodology, the paper also includes an empirical section, in which we apply the protocol to the concrete case of the Bolsa Verde Program. In doing so, we hope to make the methodology more tangible and to elucidate its advantages and limitations.