This webinar demonstrated the potential for artificial intelligence tools to enhance qualitative evidence synthesis, converting labour-intensive processes into efficient, transparent, and reproducible workflows without sacrificing methodological rigour. It explained how to read the evolving AI landscape and align tool selection to specific qualitative synthesis tasks. Participants learned to identify appropriate AI applications by matching tool capabilities to synthesis stages — from search and screening through to thematic or framework analysis and confidence assessment. The webinar emphasised that transparent, critically evaluated AI assistance, supported by clear reporting and reflexive practice, is essential to bridge the gap between technological possibility and trustworthy synthesis. Attendees left with practical tools to map AI applications across the synthesis workflow, spot opportunities for responsible AI use, and deliver qualitative syntheses that are efficient and credible.
Speaker Details:
Andrew Booth is a Professor in Evidence Synthesis at the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR), University of Sheffield. His methodological expertise centres on realist synthesis and qualitative evidence synthesis and he has authored both guidance and reviews for Cochrane and the World Health Organization, amongst others. He is also co-Director of the Sheffield EnSygN NIHR Evidence Synthesis Centre and of the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research (Sheffield) Evidence Synthesis Centre.
