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Meta-study

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journal contribution
posted on 2021-05-28, 14:28 authored by Noora Ronkainen, Gareth WiltshireGareth Wiltshire, Martin Willis
Meta-study is a method for analysing the content and the process of knowledge production in a body of qualitative research. Conducting a meta-study involves four steps: (1) meta-dataanalysis which involves the study of empirical findings; (2) metamethod which examines the epistemological soundness and rigour of methods; (3) meta-theory which examines the structures, assumptions, and principles underpinning the primary research studies; and (4) meta-synthesis which brings the three steps together and considers the plausibility of existing accounts, what has been neglected, and what new avenues have been opened for advancing knowledge. Qualitative researchers in sport and exercise psychology (SEP) have recently started using metastudy to examine bodies of qualitative research in various areas including positive youth development, junior-to-senior transition, athletic identity and mental toughness development. Our review shows that meta-study has been a useful method for demonstrating how methodological developments have influenced how qualitative researchers apply methods and conceptualise the phenomena of interest. However, there have been diverse applications of meta-study and, in the absence of recent updates on the method, meta-study is in danger of remaining underdeveloped or becoming outdated. Based on the review, we outline guidelines for SEP scholars to employ metastudy rigorously.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology

Volume

15

Issue

1

Pages

226-241

Publisher

Informa UK Limited

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Rights holder

© The authors

Publisher statement

This is an Open Access Article. It is published by Taylor and Francis under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence. Full details of this licence are available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Acceptance date

2021-05-11

Publication date

2021-05-27

Copyright date

2021

ISSN

1750-984X

eISSN

1750-9858

Language

  • en

Depositor

Mr Gareth Wiltshire. Deposit date: 28 May 2021

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