QUALITATIVE METASYNTHESIS - ISSUES AND TECHNIQUES

There has been an accumulation of qualitative studies in recent years, but little cumulation of the understandings gained from them. Qualita tive research appears endangered both by efforts to synthesize studies and by the failure to do so. Techniques used have included reciprocal translations of key metaphors and concepts and qualitative and quanti tative comparative analyses to produce narrative and theoretical integ rations. The major problem yet to be resolved is developing usable and communicable systematic approaches to conducting metasynthesis projec ts that maintain the integrity of individual studies. (C) 1997 John Wi ley & Sons, Inc.