A summarization of systematic review methodology for qualitative data
ZHANG Jing-yi
ZHANG Ya-ting
GAI Qiong-yan
ZHAO Xue
WANG Hui-ying
BAI Zheng-gang
Abstract：Qualitative systematic review is a kind of research method in which qualitative questions are included into qualitative researches for objectively reviewing and analyzing conclusions after system retrieval. Data synthesis is an important procedure in qualitative systematic review, and the included researches are summed up and meanwhile the results of systematic review is directly determined. There are three major synthesis methods used by most reviewers including thematic synthesis, Meta-ethnography and CIS (critical interpretive synthesis). Thematic synthesis is characterized by forming descriptive and analytical themes. Meta-ethnography is used when included literature or extracted themes have obvious similar or contradictory relationship, and conclusion can be obtained through linear argument. CIS is a data synthesis method with broader applicability developed based on Meta-ethnography. These three synthesis methods for qualitative research data are introduced in details here, and the methodological guideline will be provided to researchers.
Keywords：Qualitative systematic reviewData synthesisThematic synthesisMeta-ethnographyCritical interpretive synthesis
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 523-527 )