Methods for the synthesis of qualitative research: a critical review

Table 1 Summary table

	Idealist	Realist
Searching	Iterative	Linear
Quality assessment	Less clear, less a priori; quality of content rather than method	Clear and a priori
Problematizing the literature	Yes	No
Question	Explore	Answer
Heterogeneity	Lots	Little
Synthetic product	Complex	Clear for policy makers and practitioners

N.B.: In terms of the above dimensions, it is generally a question of degree rather than of absolute distinctions.

ISSN: 1471-2288