Interpretive qualitative synthesis in the sport & exercise sciences: The meta‐interpretation approach

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss the interpretive synthesis of qualitative research in the sport and exercise sciences. The paper discusses the “meta‐interpretation” approach which attempts to maintain an interpretive epistemology congruent with the majority of primary qualitative research. The paper reviews and evaluates eight research methods or approaches that include some form of synthesis and that are and have been widely used in sport, health and exercise research (literature review, systematic review, meta‐analysis, meta‐ethnography, grounded theory, cross‐case comparison, secondary analysis of primary data, and interpretive phenomenological analysis). The key features of each approach are drawn out, and their implications for the meta‐interpretation approach are discussed. The paper then outlines the procedure for meta‐interpretation before concluding with some comments on the functions of synthesis in general and meta‐interpretation in particular.