Stage 6: Analysis & Synthesis: Step 3: What Tools to use for Analysis

Conducting Analysis on Quantitative Data

Software for Qualitative Analysis

There are several tools that you may use to assist with your meta-synthesis. Some of these tools are:

Software for Quantitative Analysis

For quantitative syntheses, the data is synthesized using a meta-analysis.

Meta-analyses combine data from different studies, weigh them depending on their sample size and relevant criteria, and then evaluate the data to determine the cumulative outcome.

If you have conducted one or more meta-analyses, you should present the results as an estimated effect across studies with a confidence interval. It is often simplest to show each meta-analysis summary with the actual results of included studies in a forest plot.

There are several tools that you may use to assist with your quantitative analyses. Some of these tools are:

There are also tools specific to meta-analyses. These are OpenMeta[Analyst], OpenMEE, Mix 2.0, Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA), RevMan for Cochrane reviews, and SUMARI for Joanna Briggs Institute reviews.