Updated Methodology for Mixed Methods Systematic Reviews

The methodology has been reviewed and updated by the JBI Mixed Methods Methodology Group, which has been working to revise the chapter since 2015. Nine members comprise the Group and represent Australia, UK, US, Canada and Portugal. Group Chair is Professor Heather Loveday from the University of West London.

Mixed methods systematic reviews are complex but their usefulness to healthcare is unique in that they can maximise the ability of review findings to assist clinical and policy decision making by offering unique insights related to the complexities associated with healthcare quality and safety.

Dr Cindy Stern, co-convenor of the Group and Senior Research Fellow at JBI explains: "Although the steps involved in a mixed methods systematic review are the same as a traditional single method systematic review there are issues around the synthesis and integration of different types of data."

Working on the project with Dr Stern (pictured left) was Dr Lucylynn Lizarondo (pictured right), a research fellow at JBI, who explains that the guidance outlined in the newly revised chapter highlights two approaches to synthesis and integration, the convergent integrated approach and the convergent segregated approach: "The type of question(s) that is/are posed in the systematic review dictate the approach the reviewer should follow", Dr Lizarondo said.

“If the review question can be addressed by both quantitative and qualitative research designs the convergent integrated approach should be followed; if the focus of the review is on different aspects or dimensions of a particular phenomenon of interest the convergent segregated approach is undertaken. Currently the guidance is solely for reviews addressing questions of effectiveness and experience/meaningfulness and does not encompass other types of questions/reviews e.g. economic questions or prevalence or incidence questions", Dr Lizarondo added.

Assoc Prof Zachary Munn, Director of Transfer Science at JBI, thanked the Group for their work on the project and said: “Although more work is needed to further the methodology this would currently be the most detailed guidance for reviewers wanting to undertake a mixed methods systematic review”.

Find guidance for mixed methods systematic reviews in the JBI Reviewer's Manual.