Meta-Ethnography Training

Evidence-based health and social care requires robust syntheses of qualitative research studies – qualitative evidence syntheses –  to increase our understanding of people’s experiences to inform policy and practice. Meta-ethnography is a popular and influential interpretive methodology for synthesising qualitative research studies in health and social care. Developed in 1988 by Noblit and Hare, sociologists in education, the systematic, seven-phase meta-ethnography methodology has evolved and advanced in the subsequent 30 years.

Aim: This workshop aims to provide participants with an understanding of the key principles of meta-ethnography conduct including the complex analytic synthesis processes of ‘translation’ and ‘synthesising translations.’

Objectives: To describe and explain why, when, and how to conduct a meta-ethnography.

Learning outcomes: In this course participants will be enabled to:

• Describe the seven phases of meta-ethnography
• Understand how meta-ethnography differs from other QES methodologies
• Understand when use of meta-ethnography is and is not appropriate
• Identify the range of literature search and selection methods suitable for meta-ethnography
• Identify the impact of different strategies for reading primary studies on the output of a meta-ethnography
• Attain an understanding of the principles for conducting meta-ethnography phases 4 to 6: determining how studies are related, translation, synthesis of translations and line of argument synthesis

Date: 19th September 2022

Time: 09:30-15:00

Places: 25 available for individuals who are resident in Ireland & Northern Ireland

Skill Level: Intermediate

Target Audience: Health and social care professionals, academics, researchers, postgraduate students, decision makers, Evidence Synthesis Ireland fellows and other professionals involved in the use of synthesised health care evidence who have some knowledge or expertise in qualitative evidence synthesis.

Teaching Strategies: The workshop will consist of presentations, led by Emma France, covering each of the phases of meta-ethnography conduct, small group activities and plenary discussions, providing participants with the opportunity to reflect on key aspects and principles of meta-ethnography conduct.

Facilitator: Dr. Emma France, Associate Professor, NMAHP Research Unit, University of Stirling