Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Case Studies

The purpose of this article is to provide the research design of a meta-synthesis of qualitative case studies. The meta-synthesis aims at building theory out of primary qualitative case studies that have not been planned as part of a unified multisite effect. By drawing on an understanding of research synthesis as the interpretation of qualitative evidence from a postpositivistic perspective, this article proposes eight steps of synthesizing existing qualitative case study findings to build theory. An illustration of the application of this method in the field of dynamic capabilities is provided. After enumerating the options available to meta-synthesis researchers, the potential challenges as well as the prospects of this research design are discussed.

[1]  Constance E. Helfat,et al.  Dynamic capabilities : understanding strategic change in organizations , 2007 .

[2]  E. Guba,et al.  Naturalistic inquiry: Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1985, 416 pp., $25.00 (Cloth) , 1985 .

[3]  A. Edmondson,et al.  METHODOLOGICAL FIT IN MANAGEMENT FIELD RESEARCH. , 2007 .

[4]  H. Rothstein,et al.  Revealed or Concealed? Transparency of Procedures, Decisions, and Judgment Calls in Meta-Analyses , 2012 .

[5]  Nicolaj Siggelkow.  Persuasion with case studies , 2007 .

[6]  Michael A. McDaniel,et al.  Publication Bias in the Organizational Sciences , 2012 .

[7]  Catherine M. Dalton,et al.  Meta-Analyses , 2008 .

[8]  D. Tranfield,et al.  Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence-Informed Management Knowledge by Means of Systematic Review , 2003 .

[9]  P. Jarzabkowski,et al.  Strategy-as-Practice: A Review and Future Directions for the Field , 2009 .

[10]  R. Gephart.  Qualitative Research and the Academy of Management Journal , 2004 .

[11]  Herman Aguinis,et al.  Meta-Analytic Choices and Judgment Calls: Implications for Theory Building and Testing, Obtained Effect Sizes, and Scholarly Impact , 2011 .

[12]  M. Hunt.  How Science Takes Stock: The Story of Meta-Analysis , 1997 .

[13]  Gianmario Verona,et al.  Dynamic Capabilities Deconstructed: A Bibliographic Investigation into the Origins, Development, and Future Directions of the Research Domain , 2010 .

[14]  D. Teece,et al.  DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT , 1997 .

[15]  Dennis A. Gioia,et al.  Multiparadigm Perspectives on Theory Building , 1990 .

[16]  Kevin G. Corley,et al.  Building Better Theory by Bridging the Quantitative-Qualitative Divide , 2006 .

[17]  Giovanni Gavetti,et al.  Cognition and Hierarchy: Rethinking the Microfoundations of Capabilities' Development , 2005, Organ. Sci..

[18]  K. Eisenhardt.  Building theories from case study research , 1989, STUDI ORGANIZZATIVI.

[19]  J. Colquitt,et al.  TRENDS IN THEORY BUILDING AND THEORY TESTING: A FIVE-DECADE STUDY OF THE ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT JOURNAL , 2007 .

[20]  E. Guba,et al.  Competing paradigms in qualitative research. , 1994 .

[21]  M. Burawoy.  The Extended Case Method* , 1998 .

[22]  Catherine M. Dalton,et al.  Debunking Myths and Urban Legends About Meta-Analysis , 2011 .

[23]  John P. Wanous,et al.  The role of judgment calls in meta-analysis. , 1989 .

[24]  F. Schmidt.  Meta-Analysis , 2008 .

[25]  G. Glass.  9: Integrating Findings: The Meta-Analysis of Research , 1977 .

[26]  J. M. Cortina,et al.  Apples and Oranges (and Pears, Oh My!): The Search for Moderators in Meta-Analysis , 2003 .

[27]  Herman Aguinis,et al.  Revisiting the file drawer problem in meta‐analysis: An assessment of published and nonpublished correlation matrices. , 2012 .

[28]  K. Weick.  Theory Construction as Disciplined Imagination , 1989 .

[29]  Catherine L. Wang,et al.  Dynamic Capabilities: A Review and Research Agenda , 2007 .

[30]  Michael T. Brannick,et al.  An Illustration of the Consequences of Meta-Analysis Model Choice , 2008 .

[31]  Kevin D. Carlson,et al.  Citing and Building on Meta-Analytic Findings , 2011 .

[32]  R. Piekkari,et al.  The Case Study as Disciplinary Convention , 2009 .

[33]  Gregg B. Jackson,et al.  Meta-Analysis: Cumulating Research Findings Across Studies , 1982 .

[34]  Kathleen M. Eisenhardt,et al.  Theory Building From Cases: Opportunities And Challenges , 2007 .

[35]  M. Pratt.  Fitting Oval Pegs Into Round Holes , 2008 .

[36]  T. Kuhn,et al.  The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. , 1964 .

[37]  Mie Augier,et al.  Dynamic Capabilities and the Role of Managers in Business Strategy and Economic Performance , 2009, Organ. Sci..

[38]  Kathleen M. Eisenhardt,et al.  DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES, WHAT ARE THEY? , 2000 .

[39]  Hans-Gerd Ridder,et al.  The theoretical contribution of case study research to the field of strategy and management , 2009 .

[40]  R. Stake.  Qualitative Case Studies. , 2005 .

[41]  Michael A. McDaniel,et al.  PUBLICATION BIAS: A CASE STUDY OF FOUR TEST VENDORS , 2006 .

[42]  Rhonda K. Reger,et al.  A Content Analysis of the Content Analysis Literature in Organization Studies: Research Themes, Data Sources, and Methodological Refinements , 2007 .

[43]  Herman Aguinis,et al.  Comparison of Three Meta-Analytic Procedures for Estimating Moderating Effects of Categorical Variables , 2008 .