Critical qualitative research has evolved over time and is an invaluable tool in advancing education research and practice. Researchers who have conducted critical literature reviews—through either a systematic/scientific or a synthesis approach—have enriched the breadth and depth of our understanding of said population or topic. More important, their/our work strives to raise critical consciousness, pushes for social transformation, and disrupts structural oppressions. The purpose of our collective work is to name, offer examples, and discuss how researchers have taken up critical qualitative inquiry to contribute to and expand knowledge through a literature synthesis approach. We share our positionalities, discuss the usage of critical theory, identify literature review examples, and offer considerations for conducting syntheses.
Palmer et al. (Wed,) studied this question.