Making qualitative data more visible in policy: a critical appraisal of meta-synthesis

This article explores meta-synthesis, the systematic review, and integration of qualitative findings, as a tool to advance the visibility, accessibility, and policy and programmatic relevance of quantitative data in applied fields like international development. I draw on my experiences of synthesizing 30 qualitative cases for a book on microfinance and women’s empowerment to examine the benefits and challenges of this approach and to provide practical guidance. I identify the conditions where meta-synthesis can make the strongest contributions and ways in which it can enhance the robustness of qualitative research. I also detail the tensions of between meta-synthesis appeals to efficiency and standardization and the core epistemological and ethical commitments of qualitative methods. In practice, these tensions were most apparent in issues of primary case inclusion and selection, incorporation of context, and the ethics of voice and representation.