We sought studies with the highest levels of methodological rigour, following an evidence based approach [ 7].
JP and SQ independently assessed the methodological rigour of all eligible articles based on a modification of tools designed to assess qualitative and quantitative studies (the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) appraisal tool and Centre for Evidence-Based Management Survey Scoring System, respectively) [ 24, 25].
Nevertheless, challenges still remain when ranking and selecting qualitative studies based on their methodological rigour due to extreme heterogeneity of methodological descriptions and editorial requirements of published qualitative papers.
As the intent was to provide a comprehensive review of lay perspectives of SA, studies were neither excluded nor weighted based on study characteristics or methodological rigour, as there is no established methodology for quality assessment of construct reviews.
When performing qualitative research such as the interpretation of individual interviews, efforts must be made to establish methodological rigour and to avoid potential bias.
Finalists are chosen based on significance of research results, methodological rigour, empirical content, and impact on childhood disability care.
The research undertaken was clearly limited by issues relating to methodological rigour with a lack of measurement of outcomes, overemphasis on needs based research and limitations associated with sampling.
Studies were not excluded based on their methods, but we did assess the methodological rigour of included studies.
The process of systematic stakeholder identification can thus increases the methodological rigour of concept mapping and other stakeholder-based projects.
The findings from this study demonstrate some clear issues in terms of methodological rigour, a lack of measurement of clear outcomes and an over emphasis on needs based research.
