How to do a systematic review of qualitative research, online
Thursday, 19 November 2026 to Friday, 20 November 2026, 9.30am - 11.30am
Apply for this courseIntroduces searching for, critically appraising and synthesising qualitative evidence, with an emphasis on making qualitative systematic review methods accessible to postgraduate researchers.
You are required to attend two sessions:
- Thursday 19 November, 09:30 - 11:30
- Friday 20 November, 09:30 - 11:30
course description
It is ideal for researchers conducting a review as part of their studies, preparing grant applications, or contributing to service development. No prior knowledge of qualitative research is required, and there is no pre-course work – all teaching takes place during the live online sessions.
Whether you are undertaking your first qualitative evidence synthesis or want to strengthen your review skills, this course provides a practical introduction to conducting high-quality systematic reviews of qualitative research.
The course is led by Dr Francine Toye, an internationally recognised expert in systematic reviews of qualitative research and recipient of the University of Oxford Excellence in Teaching Award. Her teaching is designed to make qualitative systematic reviews clear, practical and accessible
course objectives
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Understand the fundamental differences between quantitative and qualitative research, including concepts such as realism and relativism
- Recognise the similarities and differences between different methods, including meta-ethnography, thematic synthesis, and framework synthesis
- Plan and conduct a systematic search of qualitative research
- Understand the principles of selecting studies for inclusion in a systematic review
- Learn the fundamentals of data extraction, coding, and synthesis of data
- Understand current reporting standards for systematic reviews of qualitative research
- Explore contemporary issues in qualitative evidence synthesis, including the opportunities and challenges of using Generative AI
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
Maximum 25
ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATE ON SURVEY COMPLETION
It is now a requirement that you complete the three short questions in the survey you receive after attending the course. Once you have submitted the survey, you will be sent an email with a link to your attendance certificate. This is to ensure we receive the feedback we need to evaluate and improve our courses. Survey results are downloaded and stored anonymously.
feedback from previous sessions
Fran was an excellent tutor, who clearly had a really good understanding of the topic and could explain the rationale and nuance behind it. The activities were excellent, both before each session and during the sessions.
Really practical and relevant. Fran was a fantastic lecturer and made complex concepts simple and relatable.
Francine really broke down certain concepts in a very graspable way. To be able to interrupt at any point with questions and for clarity was a big benefit, and the number of attendees felt about right to be viable and rich enough.I really enjoyed Francine's approach to teaching, she was patient and explained things very well. I highly recommend this course to others