Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2006 Spring;13(1):29.

Defining and Designing Mixed Research Synthesis Studies

Affiliations

Defining and Designing Mixed Research Synthesis Studies

Margarete Sandelowski et al. Res Sch. 2006 Spring.

Abstract

Mixed research synthesis is the latest addition to the repertoires of mixed methods research and systematic review. Mixed research synthesis requires that the problems generated by the methodological diversity within and between qualitative and quantitative studies be resolved. Three basic research designs accommodate this diversity, including the segregated, integrated, and contingent designs. Much work remains to be done before mixed research synthesis can secure its place in the repertoires of mixed methods research and systematic review, but the effort is well worth it as it has the potential to enhance both the significance and utility for practice of the many qualitative and quantitative studies constituting shared domains of research.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Barbour RS. The role of qualitative research in broadening the “evidence base” for clinical practice. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 2000;6:155–163. - PubMed
    1. Barbour RS, Barbour M. Evaluating and synthesizing qualitative research: The need to develop a distinctive approach. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 2003;9:179–186. - PubMed
    1. Booth A. Cochrane or cock-eyed? How should we conduct systematic reviews of qualitative research?. Paper presented at the Qualitative Evidence-Based Practice Conference: Taking a critical stance; Coventry University; 2001. May, Retrieved December 24, 2005, from Education-Line at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00001724.doc.
    1. Buchanan DR. An uneasy alliance: Combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. Health Education Quarterly. 1992;19:117–135. - PubMed
    1. Campbell R, Pound P, Pope C, Britten N, Pill R, Morgan M, et al. Evaluating meta-ethnography: A synthesis of qualitative research on lay experiences of diabetes and diabetes care. Social Science & Medicine. 2003;56:671–684. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources