What are scoping studies? A review of the nursing literature. Davis, K., Drey, N., & Gould, D. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 46(10):1386–1400, October, 2009. ![What are scoping studies? A review of the nursing literature [link]](https://bibbase.org/img/filetypes/link.svg "link")
Paper doi abstract bibtex Background Scoping studies are increasingly undertaken as distinct activities. The interpretation, methodology and expectations of scoping are highly variable. This suggests that conceptually, scoping is a poorly defined ambiguous term. The distinction between scoping as an integral preliminary process in the development of a research proposal or a formative, methodologically rigorous activity in its own right has not been extensively examined. Aims The aim of this review is to explore the nature and status of scoping studies within the nursing literature and develop a working definition to ensure consistency in the future use of scoping as a research related activity. Design This paper follows an interpretative scoping review methodology. Data sources An explicit systematic search strategy included literary and web-based key word searches and advice from key researchers. Electronic sources included bibliographic and national research register databases and a general browser. Results The scoping studies varied widely in terms of intent, procedural and methodological rigor. An atheoretical stance was common although explicit conceptual clarification and development of a topic was limited. Four different levels of inquiry ranging from preliminary descriptive surveys to more substantive conceptual approaches were conceptualised. These levels reflected differing dimensional distinctions in which some activities constitute research whereas in others the scoping activities appear to fall outside the remit of research. Reconnaissance emerges as a common synthesising construct to explain the purpose of scoping. Conclusions Scoping studies in relation to nursing are embryonic and continue to evolve. Its main strengths lie in its ability to extract the essence of a diverse body of evidence giving it meaning and significance that is both developmental and intellectually creative. As with other approaches to research and evidence synthesis a more standardized approach is required.
@article{davis_what_2009,
title = {What are scoping studies? {A} review of the nursing literature},
volume = {46},
issn = {0020-7489},
shorttitle = {What are scoping studies?},
url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748909000698},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.02.010},
abstract = {Background
Scoping studies are increasingly undertaken as distinct activities. The interpretation, methodology and expectations of scoping are highly variable. This suggests that conceptually, scoping is a poorly defined ambiguous term. The distinction between scoping as an integral preliminary process in the development of a research proposal or a formative, methodologically rigorous activity in its own right has not been extensively examined.
Aims
The aim of this review is to explore the nature and status of scoping studies within the nursing literature and develop a working definition to ensure consistency in the future use of scoping as a research related activity.
Design
This paper follows an interpretative scoping review methodology.
Data sources
An explicit systematic search strategy included literary and web-based key word searches and advice from key researchers. Electronic sources included bibliographic and national research register databases and a general browser.
Results
The scoping studies varied widely in terms of intent, procedural and methodological rigor. An atheoretical stance was common although explicit conceptual clarification and development of a topic was limited. Four different levels of inquiry ranging from preliminary descriptive surveys to more substantive conceptual approaches were conceptualised. These levels reflected differing dimensional distinctions in which some activities constitute research whereas in others the scoping activities appear to fall outside the remit of research. Reconnaissance emerges as a common synthesising construct to explain the purpose of scoping.
Conclusions
Scoping studies in relation to nursing are embryonic and continue to evolve. Its main strengths lie in its ability to extract the essence of a diverse body of evidence giving it meaning and significance that is both developmental and intellectually creative. As with other approaches to research and evidence synthesis a more standardized approach is required.},
number = {10},
urldate = {2015-05-25},
journal = {International Journal of Nursing Studies},
author = {Davis, Kathy and Drey, Nick and Gould, Dinah},
month = oct,
year = {2009},
keywords = {Mapping and research, Review, Scoping, nursing},
pages = {1386--1400},
}
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Aims The aim of this review is to explore the nature and status of scoping studies within the nursing literature and develop a working definition to ensure consistency in the future use of scoping as a research related activity. Design This paper follows an interpretative scoping review methodology. Data sources An explicit systematic search strategy included literary and web-based key word searches and advice from key researchers. Electronic sources included bibliographic and national research register databases and a general browser. Results The scoping studies varied widely in terms of intent, procedural and methodological rigor. An atheoretical stance was common although explicit conceptual clarification and development of a topic was limited. Four different levels of inquiry ranging from preliminary descriptive surveys to more substantive conceptual approaches were conceptualised. These levels reflected differing dimensional distinctions in which some activities constitute research whereas in others the scoping activities appear to fall outside the remit of research. Reconnaissance emerges as a common synthesising construct to explain the purpose of scoping. Conclusions Scoping studies in relation to nursing are embryonic and continue to evolve. Its main strengths lie in its ability to extract the essence of a diverse body of evidence giving it meaning and significance that is both developmental and intellectually creative. As with other approaches to research and evidence synthesis a more standardized approach is required.","number":"10","urldate":"2015-05-25","journal":"International Journal of Nursing Studies","author":[{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Davis"],"firstnames":["Kathy"],"suffixes":[]},{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Drey"],"firstnames":["Nick"],"suffixes":[]},{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Gould"],"firstnames":["Dinah"],"suffixes":[]}],"month":"October","year":"2009","keywords":"Mapping and research, Review, Scoping, nursing","pages":"1386–1400","bibtex":"@article{davis_what_2009,\n\ttitle = {What are scoping studies? {A} review of the nursing literature},\n\tvolume = {46},\n\tissn = {0020-7489},\n\tshorttitle = {What are scoping studies?},\n\turl = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748909000698},\n\tdoi = {10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.02.010},\n\tabstract = {Background\nScoping studies are increasingly undertaken as distinct activities. The interpretation, methodology and expectations of scoping are highly variable. This suggests that conceptually, scoping is a poorly defined ambiguous term. The distinction between scoping as an integral preliminary process in the development of a research proposal or a formative, methodologically rigorous activity in its own right has not been extensively examined.\nAims\nThe aim of this review is to explore the nature and status of scoping studies within the nursing literature and develop a working definition to ensure consistency in the future use of scoping as a research related activity.\nDesign\nThis paper follows an interpretative scoping review methodology.\nData sources\nAn explicit systematic search strategy included literary and web-based key word searches and advice from key researchers. Electronic sources included bibliographic and national research register databases and a general browser.\nResults\nThe scoping studies varied widely in terms of intent, procedural and methodological rigor. An atheoretical stance was common although explicit conceptual clarification and development of a topic was limited. Four different levels of inquiry ranging from preliminary descriptive surveys to more substantive conceptual approaches were conceptualised. These levels reflected differing dimensional distinctions in which some activities constitute research whereas in others the scoping activities appear to fall outside the remit of research. Reconnaissance emerges as a common synthesising construct to explain the purpose of scoping.\nConclusions\nScoping studies in relation to nursing are embryonic and continue to evolve. Its main strengths lie in its ability to extract the essence of a diverse body of evidence giving it meaning and significance that is both developmental and intellectually creative. 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