What is a qualitative synthesis?
Author:
Open Access
- 21 September 2012
- journal article
- Published by BMJ in Evidence-Based Nursing
- Vol. 15 (4) , 101
Abstract
There are several different ways of carrying out a qualitative synthesis (for more details, see refs.3–6). Noblit and Hare7 describe two broad types of qualitative syntheses. First, integrated reviews, where data are aggregated or summarised, often using themes. Second, interpretative reviews, which as the name suggests, involve interpreting the data. From this inductive approach, new conceptual understandings can emerge, leading to development of a theory that explains and integrates the concepts. Dixon-Woods et al8 emphasise ‘the concern is with generating concepts that have maximum explanatory value’. p. 37, pointing out that all types of synthesis involve some summary of data and some interpretation.Keywords
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