This report provides a number of examples of research that are deliberately or inadvertently developing methods for synthesising evidence from diverse sources. It is a part of a larger SCIE programme of work focused on using knowledge in social care. It provides a partial picture of methodological work synthesising evidence from research using diverse research designs. It looks at work both on the synthesis of qualitative evidence and on the synthesis of qualitative and quantitative evidence. The report is aimed at all those who conduct research, in particular systematic reviews, in the social care sector. Report published by Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in November 2003.
