Cochrane Interactive Learning

Module 12: Introduction to qualitative evidence synthesis

About this module

Part of the Cochrane Interactive Learning course on Conducting an Intervention Review, this module will give you an introduction to qualitative evidence synthesis (QES), taking stock of the qualitative evidence, synthesising and developing QES findings and writing up a QES report.

Time 90-120 minutes


What you can expect to learn (learning outcomes)

This module will teach you to:

  • Understand the types of questions a QES can explore
  • List the steps in conducting a QES
  • Recognize the importance of a question formulation framework
  • Choose a method for synthesis
  • Identify the reporting guidelines for different types of QES

Authors, contributors, and how to cite this module

Module 12 has been written and compiled by:

Andrew Booth, Professor in Evidence Synthesis in the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR) at the University of Sheffield and an adjunct Professor at the University of Limerick, UK.

Jane Noyes, Professor in Health and Social Services Research and Child Health, Bangor University, UK.

Dario Sambunjak and Ruth Turley, Cochrane Central Executive Team.

A full list of acknowledgements, including our expert advisors from across Cochrane, is available at the end of each module page.
This module should be cited as: Booth A, Noyes J, Ruth T, Sambunjak D. Module 12: Introduction to qualitative evidence synthesis. In: Cochrane Interactive Learning: Conducting an intervention review. Cochrane, 2024. Available from https://training.cochrane.org/interactivelearning/module-12-introduction-qualitative-evidence-synthesis.


Staying up to date

The module was last updated on February 2024.

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