Ten practices for successful study coding in research syntheses: Developing coding manuals and coding forms
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2025
Department/School
Special Education and Communication Sciences and Disorders
Publication Title
Research Synthesis Methods
Abstract
Study coding is an essential component of the research synthesis process. Data extracted during study coding serve as a direct link between the included studies and the synthesis results, allowing reviewers to justify claims about the findings from a set of related studies. The purpose of this tutorial is to provide authors, particularly those new to research synthesis, with recommendations to develop study coding manuals and forms that result in efficient, high-quality data extraction. Each of the 10 easy-to-follow practices is supported with additional resources, examples, or non-examples to help authors develop high-quality study coding materials. With the increase in publication of meta-analyses in recent years across many disciplines, a primary goal of this article is to enhance the quality of study coding materials that authors develop.
Link to Published Version
Recommended Citation
Nelson, G., Quinn, S., Grant, S., Trevino, S. D., Day, E., Schweer-Collins, M., Carter, H., Boedeker, P., & Tanner-Smith, E. (2025). Ten practices for successful study coding in research syntheses: Developing coding manuals and coding forms. Research Synthesis Methods, 16(5), 709–728. https://doi.org/10.1017/rsm.2025.10019
Comments
S. Quinn is a faculty member in EMU's Department of Special Education and Communication Sciences and Disorders.