IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/qualqt/v59y2025i2d10.1007_s11135-024-02003-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Quality assessment tool for theory-based and literature review studies (QATTL): development and validation of a critical appraisal tool

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph Crawford

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Jo-Anne Kelder

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Gail Wilson

    (Southern Cross University)

Abstract

A recognised challenge in undertaking a systematic review is critical appraisal of study quality. Tools have been developed for assessing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies. However, critical appraisal of theory-based and literature review studies is not similarly supported. This study develops and validates a tool designed for appraisal of theory-based and literature review studies using 1,181 single appraisals and 496 aggregated paired appraisals. The findings supported a two-factor model for quality appraisal that emphasized core quality items (title, abstract, introduction, literature, theoretical framework, findings, and discussion) and supplementary data (conclusions, disclosures, strengths and limitations, and use of tables and figures). The Quality Assessment Tool for Theory-based and Literature review studies (QATTL) can be incorporated into systematic review studies that include theory-based and literature studies in their sample. This paper provides a clear model for assessing the quality of theory and literature review studies and information on key parameters of quality for the design of literature reviews.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Crawford & Jo-Anne Kelder & Gail Wilson, 2025. "Quality assessment tool for theory-based and literature review studies (QATTL): development and validation of a critical appraisal tool," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 1089-1102, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:59:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11135-024-02003-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-024-02003-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11135-024-02003-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11135-024-02003-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:59:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11135-024-02003-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.