This insightful article, “Enhancing the scoping study methodology: a large, inter-professional team’s experience with Arksey and O’Malley’s framework”, published by Daudt, van Mossel, and Scott in BMC Medical Research Methodology, offers a critical contribution to the evolving field of scoping studies. Building upon the foundational 2005 framework by Arksey and O’Malley and subsequent advancements by Levac et al., this paper details the unique experiences and valuable lessons learned by a large, inter-professional research team.
The authors embark on a comprehensive discussion that enhances understanding of scoping study applications and methodologies. Key areas of focus include:
- Appropriate Research Questions: The paper explores the types of questions for which Arksey and O’Malley’s framework is most suitable, particularly highlighting that questions involving comparisons (e.g., between interventions, programs, or approaches) appear to be the most effective.
- Enhancements to the Six-Step Framework: The article provides practical recommendations to strengthen each stage of Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. Notably, it strongly advocates for incorporating an assessment of study quality as a necessary component and suggests conducting a trial of the method before fully embarking on the data charting process to ensure consistency.
- Strengths and Challenges of Inter-Professional Teams: A significant contribution is the detailed account of working with a large, inter-professional team. While acknowledging challenges related to consensus and resource limitations, the authors emphasize that the benefits, including the breadth and depth of knowledge each team member brings and resulting time efficiencies, far outweigh these difficulties. They recommend that researchers consider the immense value of such teams, particularly in complex research areas.
- Revised Definition and Purpose: The article proposes a refined definition of scoping studies, removing the term “rapidly” to emphasize that they require thoroughness and thoughtfulness, not speed. The suggested definition is: “Scoping studies aim to map the literature on a particular topic or research area and provide an opportunity to identify key concepts; gaps in the research; and types and sources of evidence to inform practice, policymaking, and research”.
- The Critical Role of Consultation: Daudt et al. agree with Levac et al. that the optional consultation exercise should be a mandatory stage, suggesting that including suitable stakeholders directly on the research team can embed this consultation throughout the entire research process, enriching findings and adding depth.
This paper serves as an essential resource for researchers, students, and practitioners aiming to conduct rigorous and effective scoping studies. It encourages flexibility, clarification of concepts, and iterative revision of research questions to align with the literature, ensuring that this valuable methodology is applied with maximum impact.
APA Reference:
Daudt, H. M. L., van Mossel, C., & Scott, S. J. (2013). Enhancing the scoping study methodology: a large, inter-professional team’s experience with Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 13(1), 48.