Smiley Rating System

What do the smiley faces mean?

Beacon examines all research data and assigns one of seven ratings.

  • There is no evidence at the moment. There is no evidence at the moment.
  • The evidence suggests the site doesn’t work. The evidence suggests the site doesn’t work.
  • There is evidence that the site might work. More conclusive studies are needed. There is evidence that the site might work. More conclusive studies are needed.
    The positive outcome studies are not randomised controlled trials, or there is contradictory evidence.
  • There is some evidence that the site works. One or two good studies support its use. There is some evidence that the site works. One or two good studies support its use.
    One to two randomised controlled trials exist.
  • There is good evidence from well conducted studies that the site works. There is good evidence from well conducted studies that the site works.
    At least two positive randomised controlled trials exist combined with other supportive evidence.
  • There is very strong evidence from the research literature that the site works. There is very strong evidence from the research literature that the site works.
    At least three positive randomised controlled trials.
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    More than three randomised controlled trials.