What is a characteristic of metasynthesis?
A. It is useful for triangulating research.
B. It synthesizes critical masses of qualitative findings.
C. It leads to higher reliability of research findings.
D. It cannot be conducted on historical or case study findings.
Correct Answer: B. It synthesizes critical masses of qualitative findings.
Qualitative synthesis refers to a collection of different methods for systematically reviewing and integrating findings from qualitative studies. The aims of such methods are to capture the increasing volume of qualitative research, to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to improve healthcare and to bring together a broad range of participants and descriptions.
Option A: Qualitative synthesis requires not only a systematic approach to collecting, analyzing, and interpreting results across multiple studies, but also to develop overarching interpretation emerging from the joint interpretation of the primary studies included in the synthesis.
Option C: It involves going beyond the findings of any individual study to make the “whole into something more than the parts alone imply” They have been shown to be particularly useful to identify research gaps, to inform the development of primary studies, and to provide evidence for the development, implementation, and evaluation of health interventions
Option D: Qualitative research sheds new light on scientific questions by emphasizing the participants’ subjective understanding and experience. Metasynthesis proposes a third level of comprehension and interpretation that brings original insights.