Coding framework for classifying evidence
Evidential criteria | Basis in existing literature | Data coding framework | Coding categories | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Quality | Independence | Who funded the evidence? Are authors affiliated to the tobacco industry?27 47 49 51 | Who funded the research? Has the author of the research any connection with the tobacco industry? | ▸ Tobacco industry-connected (author TTC employed, TTC created, TTC commissioned, TTC part-funded, part of TTC supply chain, received TTC hospitality) ▸ Independent of the tobacco industry ▸ Unknown (could not be determined either way) |
Nature of the evidence | Is the evidence a research study or is it something else? | What was the evidence composed of? Was it a piece of research? If not what was it? | ▸ Research (primary research carried out by the author, or secondary research evaluating/summarising two or more primary research studies) ▸ Publication of facts and/or figures only (no opinion expressed) ▸ Strategy document (outlines a strategy or plan of action, eg, organisation annual report including evaluation of previous year and plans for the future) ▸ Opinion with or without supporting evidence (referenced evidence, data, figures, casual references to the evidence with no formal citation and opinion with no supporting evidence at all) | |
Publication Route | Has the evidence been peer-reviewed or published via traditional academic routes?27 47 49 50 | Was the research published in a peer-reviewed journal or another legitimate research avenue? If not, where was the research published? | ▸ Academic (peer-reviewed journal articles, other academic including conference papers, research reports, evaluation reports) ▸ Official government (eg, government report, policy document, commissioned review, speech, statement, website, opinion, briefing, newsletter, summary, press release) ▸ Official parliamentary Publication (eg, House of Commons questions in Hansard) ▸ Private publication by company/organisation (can include report, consultation response, briefing, summary, newsletter, factsheet, webpage content, press release, private letters, blog) ▸ Press article or media coverage (newspaper, trade magazine, published letters, tv programme) | |
Relevance | Subject matter | What is the topic, argument, position or conclusion of the evidence?27 49 50 | What issue does the research address? | Either illicit trade and/or economic issues, and: ▸ SP/tobacco packaging (‘Highly relevant’) ▸ Tobacco not packaging or unrelated to either packaging or tobacco (‘Less relevant’) |
Table amended from Hatchard et al.8
SP, standardised packaging; TTC, transnational tobacco company.