Tools used to assess methodological quality of primary mixed methods or multi-method studies: a scoping review...

Area of Science:

• Methodology
• Research Quality Assessment
• Mixed Methods Research

Background:

• The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) currently lacks a dedicated appraisal tool for primary mixed methods or multi-methods studies.
• Existing JBI recommendations involve using separate qualitative and quantitative tools, which may not fully capture the nuances of mixed methods research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe available tools for critically appraising the methodological quality of primary mixed methods or multi-method studies.
• To assess the risk of bias in these studies using identified appraisal tools.
• To determine if any formal psychometric evaluation has been conducted on these tools.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review following JBI methodology and reported using PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Searches will be conducted across multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL) and other resources, with no language restrictions.
• Data extraction and analysis will involve two independent reviewers, utilizing descriptive statistics, content analysis, and narrative synthesis.

Main Results:

• This section will detail the identified appraisal tools, their characteristics, and psychometric properties.
• Results will be presented using descriptive statistics, tables, and graphs to summarize findings.
• The review will provide an overview of the current landscape of tools for mixed methods study appraisal.

Conclusions:

• The review will inform the development of appropriate appraisal tools for mixed methods research.
• Findings will guide researchers in selecting suitable instruments for assessing the quality of their mixed methods studies.
• This work addresses a critical gap in the methodological appraisal of complex research designs.