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

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.