Using Mixed Methods Research Synthesis for Literature Reviews

Patrick Onghena was born in Deurne (Belgium) on February 3, 1965. After obtaining his Master (1988) and PhD degree (1994) in Psychology at KU Leuven, he became an Associate Professor in 1995 and Full Professor in 2004 at the same university, where he teaches methodology and statistics to majors in educational sciences and psychology. He is a visiting scholar at the University of Sydney and at the Universitat de Barcelona. His research interests include randomization, single-case experimental design, meta-analysis, and mixed methods research.

Chapter 1: Introduction to MMRS Literature Reviews
Historical Sketch, Concepts, and Definitions
Overview of the Stages for Conducting MMRS Literature Reviews
Ontological Orientations for MMRS Literature Reviews
Practical Guidelines for Conducting MMRS Literature Reviews
Potentials and Pitfalls for MMRS Literature Reviews
Chapter 2: Preparing for an MMRS Literature Review
Building a Review Team
Preparing for the Protocol Phase
Developing a Protocol
Ethics Involved in Conducting MMRS Literature Reviews
Advantages and Pitfalls of the Preparatory Phase
Chapter 3: Searching for Relevant Studies
Search Process
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Documenting and Reporting the Search Process and Results
Challenges of Data Collection and Eligibility Criteria for MMRS Literature Reviews
Chapter 4: Quality Assessment of Primary Research Studies
Defining Quality Assessment
Should We Appraise the Quality of Studies and Why?
Approaches to Quality Assessment
What Sort of Tools Are Available to Support Quality Assessment of Primary Studies?
Dealing With the Outcome of a Quality Assessment Exercise
Remaining Challenges for the Quality Assessment Stage
Chapter 5: Extracting Descriptive Data
Rationale for Descriptive Data Extraction
Four Steps for Extracting Descriptive Data
Systematic and Transparent Descriptive Data Extraction Process
Presenting the Extracted Descriptive Data in the MMRS Report
Challenges of Descriptive Data Extraction for MMRS Literature Reviews
Chapter 6: Data Synthesis for Segregated MMRS Literature Reviews
Data Synthesis for Segregated, Integrated, and Contingent MMRS
Possible Data Synthesis Approaches for Segregated MMRS
Synthesis Approaches for the Qualitative Strand of a Segregated MMRS
Synthesis Approaches for the Quantitative Strand of a Segregated MMRS
Bringing the Findings of the Qualitative and the Quantitative Strand Together
Chapter 7: Data Synthesis for Integrated MMRS Literature Reviews
Possible Data Synthesis Approaches for Integrated MMRS
Quantitizing Approaches
Qualitizing Approaches
Mixed Synthesis Approaches
Chapter 8: Data Synthesis for Contingent MMRS Literature Reviews
Data Synthesis for Contingent MMRS
A Closer Look at Often Used Data Synthesis Approaches for Contingent MMRS
Alternative Data Synthesis Approaches for Contingent MMRS: Bayesian Syntheses
Chapter 9: Reporting MMRS Literature Reviews
Writing Process
The MMRS Report
Publication Outlets for MMRS Protocols and Literature Reviews
Challenges of Reporting and Publishing MMRS Literature Reviews