Introduction

In this introductory chapter, we describe the role of qualitative research syntheses in educational scholarship and argue that our book makes an important contribution to the field. Specifically, we describe the various contributions that research syntheses make to literacy and educational scholarship. We define what we mean by research syntheses and discuss both familiar (i.e., dissertation literature reviews and traditional literature reviews) and newer forms that might be less familiar to readers (e.g., integrative reviews, meta-ethnographies, and metasyntheses). We review the purposes for writing various types of reviews and briefly consider the history and scope of research syntheses. Of particular significance, we highlight the need for scholars who write research syntheses to engage in reflexive practices and assume critical stances as they do when conducting empirical research. We close by addressing the role qualitative research syntheses play in academic fields.