A methodological systematic review of meta-ethnography conduct to articulate the complex analytical phases
Abstract Background Decision making in health and social care requires robust syntheses of both quantitative and qualitative evidence. Meta-ethnography is a seven-phase methodology for synthesising qualitative studies. Developed in 1988 by sociologists in education Noblit and Hare, meta-ethnography...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2019-02-01
|
Series: | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12874-019-0670-7 |
id |
doaj-9e6844f414a44031bad63d87d73c9364 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-9e6844f414a44031bad63d87d73c93642020-11-25T02:11:15ZengBMCBMC Medical Research Methodology1471-22882019-02-0119111810.1186/s12874-019-0670-7A methodological systematic review of meta-ethnography conduct to articulate the complex analytical phasesEmma F. France0Isabelle Uny1Nicola Ring2Ruth L. Turley3Margaret Maxwell4Edward A. S. Duncan5Ruth G. Jepson6Rachel J. Roberts7Jane Noyes8NMAHP Research Unit, University of StirlingNMAHP Research Unit, University of StirlingSchool of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier UniversityDECIPHEr, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff UniversityNMAHP Research Unit, University of StirlingNMAHP Research Unit, University of StirlingScottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, University of EdinburghNMAHP Research Unit, University of StirlingSchool of Health Sciences, Bangor UniversityAbstract Background Decision making in health and social care requires robust syntheses of both quantitative and qualitative evidence. Meta-ethnography is a seven-phase methodology for synthesising qualitative studies. Developed in 1988 by sociologists in education Noblit and Hare, meta-ethnography has evolved since its inception; it is now widely used in healthcare research and is gaining popularity in education research. The aim of this article is to provide up-to-date, in-depth guidance on conducting the complex analytic synthesis phases 4 to 6 of meta-ethnography through analysis of the latest methodological evidence. Methods We report findings from a methodological systematic review conducted from 2015 to 2016. Fourteen databases and five other online resources were searched. Expansive searches were also conducted resulting in inclusion of 57 publications on meta-ethnography conduct and reporting from a range of academic disciplines published from 1988 to 2016. Results Current guidance on applying meta-ethnography originates from a small group of researchers using the methodology in a health context. We identified that researchers have operationalised the analysis and synthesis methods of meta-ethnography – determining how studies are related (phase 4), translating studies into one another (phase 5), synthesising translations (phase 6) and line of argument synthesis - to suit their own syntheses resulting in variation in methods and their application. Empirical research is required to compare the impact of different methods of translation and synthesis. Some methods are potentially better at preserving links with the context and meaning of primary studies, a key principle of meta-ethnography. A meta-ethnography can and should include reciprocal and refutational translation and line of argument synthesis, rather than only one of these, to maximise the impact of its outputs. Conclusion The current work is the first to articulate and differentiate the methodological variations and their application for different purposes and represents a significant advance in the understanding of the methodological application of meta-ethnography.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12874-019-0670-7Meta-ethnographySystematic reviewQualitative evidence synthesisMeta-synthesisQualitative researchResearch design |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Emma F. France Isabelle Uny Nicola Ring Ruth L. Turley Margaret Maxwell Edward A. S. Duncan Ruth G. Jepson Rachel J. Roberts Jane Noyes |
spellingShingle |
Emma F. France Isabelle Uny Nicola Ring Ruth L. Turley Margaret Maxwell Edward A. S. Duncan Ruth G. Jepson Rachel J. Roberts Jane Noyes A methodological systematic review of meta-ethnography conduct to articulate the complex analytical phases BMC Medical Research Methodology Meta-ethnography Systematic review Qualitative evidence synthesis Meta-synthesis Qualitative research Research design |
author_facet |
Emma F. France Isabelle Uny Nicola Ring Ruth L. Turley Margaret Maxwell Edward A. S. Duncan Ruth G. Jepson Rachel J. Roberts Jane Noyes |
author_sort |
Emma F. France |
title |
A methodological systematic review of meta-ethnography conduct to articulate the complex analytical phases |
title_short |
A methodological systematic review of meta-ethnography conduct to articulate the complex analytical phases |
title_full |
A methodological systematic review of meta-ethnography conduct to articulate the complex analytical phases |
title_fullStr |
A methodological systematic review of meta-ethnography conduct to articulate the complex analytical phases |
title_full_unstemmed |
A methodological systematic review of meta-ethnography conduct to articulate the complex analytical phases |
title_sort |
methodological systematic review of meta-ethnography conduct to articulate the complex analytical phases |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Medical Research Methodology |
issn |
1471-2288 |
publishDate |
2019-02-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Decision making in health and social care requires robust syntheses of both quantitative and qualitative evidence. Meta-ethnography is a seven-phase methodology for synthesising qualitative studies. Developed in 1988 by sociologists in education Noblit and Hare, meta-ethnography has evolved since its inception; it is now widely used in healthcare research and is gaining popularity in education research. The aim of this article is to provide up-to-date, in-depth guidance on conducting the complex analytic synthesis phases 4 to 6 of meta-ethnography through analysis of the latest methodological evidence. Methods We report findings from a methodological systematic review conducted from 2015 to 2016. Fourteen databases and five other online resources were searched. Expansive searches were also conducted resulting in inclusion of 57 publications on meta-ethnography conduct and reporting from a range of academic disciplines published from 1988 to 2016. Results Current guidance on applying meta-ethnography originates from a small group of researchers using the methodology in a health context. We identified that researchers have operationalised the analysis and synthesis methods of meta-ethnography – determining how studies are related (phase 4), translating studies into one another (phase 5), synthesising translations (phase 6) and line of argument synthesis - to suit their own syntheses resulting in variation in methods and their application. Empirical research is required to compare the impact of different methods of translation and synthesis. Some methods are potentially better at preserving links with the context and meaning of primary studies, a key principle of meta-ethnography. A meta-ethnography can and should include reciprocal and refutational translation and line of argument synthesis, rather than only one of these, to maximise the impact of its outputs. Conclusion The current work is the first to articulate and differentiate the methodological variations and their application for different purposes and represents a significant advance in the understanding of the methodological application of meta-ethnography. |
topic |
Meta-ethnography Systematic review Qualitative evidence synthesis Meta-synthesis Qualitative research Research design |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12874-019-0670-7 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT emmaffrance amethodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT isabelleuny amethodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT nicolaring amethodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT ruthlturley amethodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT margaretmaxwell amethodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT edwardasduncan amethodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT ruthgjepson amethodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT racheljroberts amethodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT janenoyes amethodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT emmaffrance methodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT isabelleuny methodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT nicolaring methodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT ruthlturley methodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT margaretmaxwell methodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT edwardasduncan methodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT ruthgjepson methodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT racheljroberts methodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases AT janenoyes methodologicalsystematicreviewofmetaethnographyconducttoarticulatethecomplexanalyticalphases |
_version_ |
1724915401845899264 |