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“Best fit” framework synthesis

Refining the method

Bibliographic Data

ID23384302
AuthorsChristopher Carroll (0000-0002-6361-6182, Regent's University London, corresponding author), Andrew Booth (0000-0003-4808-3880), Joanna Leaviss (0000-0002-5632-6021), Jo Rick (0000-0002-4659-8111, University of Manchester)
Year2013
Volume13
Issue1
Pages37-37
Publication date2013-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC Medical Research Methodology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1471-2288 • E-ISSN: 1471-2288
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/1471-2288-13-37
PMID23497061
PMCIDPMC3618126
OpenAlexW2168814190
LanguageEN
Citations received70
References cited59

BACKGROUND: Following publication of the first worked example of the "best fit" method of evidence synthesis for the systematic review of qualitative evidence in this journal, the originators of the method identified a need to specify more fully some aspects of this particular derivative of framework synthesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We therefore present a second such worked example in which all techniques are defined and explained, and their appropriateness is assessed. Specified features of the method include the development of new techniques to identify theories in a systematic manner; the creation of an a priori framework for the synthesis; and the "testing" of the synthesis. An innovative combination of existing methods of quality assessment, analysis and synthesis is used to complete the process. This second worked example was a qualitative evidence synthesis of employees' views of workplace smoking cessation interventions, in which the "best fit" method was found to be practical and fit for purpose. CONCLUSIONS: The method is suited to producing context-specific conceptual models for describing or explaining the decision-making and health behaviours of patients and other groups. It offers a pragmatic means of conducting rapid qualitative evidence synthesis and generating programme theories relating to intervention effectiveness, which might be of relevance both to researchers and policy-makers.

A priori and a posteriori · Context (archaeology) · Data science · Epistemology · Management science · Political science · Process (computing) · Process management · Psychological intervention · Qualitative research · Quality (philosophy) · Relevance (law) · Sociology · Computer Science · Engineering · Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods · Health Policy Implementation Science · Medicine · Meta-analysis and systematic reviews · Nursing

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Unique citing works70
Citations per year5,38
Citation span2013 - 2026 (14)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 66
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