Synthesizing the Meta-Synthesis Research in Management and Organization Studies: Where Are We? Where Should We Go?

Year 2023, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 84 - 94, 31.12.2023

Berivan Tatar

Abstract

Qualitative meta-synthesis methodology has received considerable attention from scholars in a variety of disciplines by answering a widening range of questions for which traditional meth-ods have proven inadequate. However, turning to management and organization research, the meta-synthesis of qualitative research is nascent in the literature. In this context, the present study investigated the conceptual and methodological framework of meta-synthesis of qual-itative research in the management and organization literature in terms of review subject, methods for searching, number of reviewed papers, appraisal methods of papers, and methods of synthesis. By investigating 9 meta-synthesis studies, it was found that a variety of contexts and subjects, mainly nurses’ working lives, were addressed in meta-synthesis research in the management and organization field. A wide range of databases and journal-based searches were performed. Also, the keywords were used as composed of variations of different key-words to cover the concept. In terms of inclusion criteria, the studies mainly used criteria as using qualitative research method, the research questions addressed the concept, written in English or a specific language, and peer-reviewed articles. In terms of methods, reviewed studies used different approaches in addition to the qualitative meta-synthesis approach.

Keywords

Meta-synthesis, qualitative research, systematic review, qualitative synthesis

Yönetim ve Organizasyon Çalışmalarında Meta-Sentez Araştırmalarının Sentezlenmesi: Neredeyiz? Nereye Gitmeliyiz?

Abstract

Nitel meta-sentez metodolojisi, geleneksel yöntemlerin yetersiz kaldığı çeşitli sorulara yanıtlar sunarak farklı disiplinlerdeki akademisyenlerden büyük ilgi görmüştür. Bununla birlikte, yönetim ve organizasyon literatüründe ise, nitel meta-sentez araştırmaları henüz gelişim aşamasındadır. Bu bağlamda, mevcut çalışma, yönetim ve organizasyon literatüründeki nitel me-ta-sentez araştırmalarının kavramsal ve metodolojik çerçevesini derleme konusu, tarama yöntemleri, incelenen makale sayısı, makalelerin değerlendirme yöntemleri ve sentez yöntemleri açısından araştırmıştır. 9 meta-sentez çalışması ışığında, yönetim ve organizasyon alanındaki meta-sentez araştırmalarında başta hemşirelerin çalışma yaşamları olmak üzere çeşitli bağlam ve konuların ele alındığı tespit edilmiştir. Çok çeşitli veri tabanları ve dergi temelli aramalar yapıldığı belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca anahtar kelimelerin kavramı kapsayacak şekilde farklı anahtar kelimelerin varyasyonlarından oluşacak şekilde belirlendiği gözlemlenmiştir. Dâhil edilme kriterleri açısından çalışmalarda ağırlıklı olarak nitel araştırma yönteminin kullanılması, araş-tırma sorularının araştırmaya konu olan kavramı ele alması, İngilizce veya belirli bir dilde yazılmış olması ve hakemli makaleler olması kriterleri kullanılmıştır. Yöntem açısından ise, incelenen çalışmalar nitel meta-sentez yaklaşımına ek olarak farklı yaklaşımlar kullanmıştır.

Keywords

Meta-sentez, nitel araştırma, sistematik derleme, nitel sentez

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