A narrative review in research, applicable across various fields including informing qualitative studies, is primarily aimed at identifying and summarizing what has previously been published on a topic.
Understanding Narrative Reviews
Unlike systematic reviews that follow a strict methodology for searching and synthesizing evidence, narrative reviews offer a broader overview. They are often used to provide context, explore theoretical frameworks, or highlight significant studies within a field.
General Applications of Narrative Reviews
Based on their aim to summarize existing literature, narrative reviews serve several key purposes. These general applications include:
- Exploring Existing Debates: Summarizing different viewpoints and arguments present in the literature.
- Appraisal of Previous Studies: Offering an evaluation or overview of significant studies conducted on a specific subject.
- Identifying Knowledge Gaps: Pointing out areas where research is lacking, which can inform future study design, including qualitative projects.
- Speculating on the Latest Interventions Available: Reviewing literature related to interventions or approaches relevant to the topic.
Key Characteristics
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Aim | Identify and summarize previously published material. |
| Methodology | Typically less structured than systematic reviews. |
| Scope | Can be broad, covering a wide range of literature. |
| Primary Use | Providing overview, context, and identifying areas for further research. |
Relevance to Qualitative Research
While the provided definition describes narrative reviews generally, their function of synthesizing existing literature is crucial in any research process, including qualitative research. Qualitative researchers often begin by conducting a literature review – which can take the form of a narrative review – to:
- Understand the current state of knowledge on their topic.
- Identify research questions that need exploring from a qualitative perspective.
- Contextualize their findings within the existing academic conversation.
By summarizing what is known, narrative reviews help researchers, including those undertaking qualitative studies, position their work and demonstrate its significance.
Example in Practice
Imagine a qualitative researcher wants to study the experiences of nurses during a pandemic. They might conduct a narrative review of published articles on nurses' experiences in previous health crises. This review would help them:
- Summarize common themes already identified (summarizing what has previously been published).
- Understand different perspectives or debates about nurse well-being (exploring existing debates).
- See what aspects of the pandemic experience haven't been explored from a qualitative angle (identifying knowledge gaps).
This process directly informs the researcher's study design, participant recruitment, and interview questions, even though the review itself follows the general principles of a narrative summary.
