Workshop in conducting integrative literature reviews

Abstract

This workshop provides a high-level overview of the process for preparing an integrative literature review. An “integrative literature review is a form of research that reviews, critiques, and synthesizes representative literature on a topic in an integrated way such that new frameworks and perspectives on the topic are generated” (Torraco, 2005, p. 356) This workshop first explains why integrative literature reviews are becoming increasingly popular in research circles, then contrasts integrative literature reviews with meta-analyses, meta-syntheses and other related forms of advanced literature reviews, as well as with more traditional literature reviews. Next, this workshop describes methodological considerations for finding, including, and excluding studies; processes for reviewing and classifying the literature, analyzing the resulting data, and the four types of findings that typical integrative literature reviews typically report. The workshop closes by directing participants to samples of integrative literature reviews and identifying considerations for submitting these reviews to peer-reviewed publications. To guide participants through this experience, this workshop is built around a sample literature review project. Participants will practice the skills taught by applying them to the sample project. For example, to illustrate methodological considerations, participants will identify characteristics for including and excluding studies in a search and, later, will receive a sample list of studies to determine whether or not to actually include them in the review.