10798: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in Management – How to Search for Literature?

Knowledge synthesis, in the form of systematic literature reviews (SLRs), meta-analyses (MAs), and other review types, are increasingly recognized as vital tools for synthesizing literature to advance theory in management research and to guide practice. However, recent findings indicate that many of such syntheses suffer from inadequate sampling practices, including poor database selection, insufficient scoping, and incomplete reporting. Reviews often fail to uncover the full breadth of relevant literature, overlook diverse scholarly communities, or rely excessively on high-prestige journals that may not represent the full picture. These deficiencies not only compromise the representativeness and reproducibility of findings but also limit their practical and theoretical impact. Rigorous sampling is foundational to producing trustworthy syntheses, yet many scholars lack training in these critical methodologies. This workshop addresses these issues by equipping participants with evidence-based, actionable methodologies to improve sampling rigor. Panelists discuss the requirements of various review types and provide systematic approaches for formulating clear research questions, designing comprehensive search strategies, and incorporating gray literature and interdisciplinary sources to avoid biases. This PDW helps participants produce high-quality reviews that contribute meaningfully to management research and practice. The hands-on training format also provides participants, particularly PhD students, with the skills and confidence to design and execute their search strategies effectively.

Think about your sampling questions and take a seat—tables are first-come, first-served. Here’s our plan: First half: Introduction, presentation, and Q&A / Second half: hands-on training through roundtable discussions. We look forward to seeing you at our PDW!