Research Synthesis Methods

Aims & Scope

Research Synthesis Methods is a multidisciplinary peer reviewed journal devoted to the development and dissemination of methods for designing, conducting, analyzing, interpreting, reporting, and applying systematic research synthesis.

It aims to facilitate the creation and exchange of knowledge about research synthesis methods that is of general interest or utility for the many fields and disciplines in which research synthesis is undertaken or used.

Research synthesis is common in the health and social sciences and many of the methods explored in this journal will apply directly to these disciplines and to their practitioners.

The journals aim is to cross-fertilize these fields as well as others so as to enrich the methods of research synthesis in all scientific disciplines.

View Aims & Scope

---

Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	6.1
2024	5.00

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	2246

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	4.020

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	77

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	417

---

---

Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science
• Medline

---

Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

---

Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• A basic introduction to fixed-effect and random-effects models for meta-analysis

  Citation: 5187

  Authors: Michael, Larry V., Julian P.T., Hannah R.

• Risk‐of‐bias VISualization (robvis): An R package and Shiny web app for visualizing risk‐of‐bias assessments

  Citation: 3344

  Authors: Luke A., Julian P. T.

• A scoping review of scoping reviews: advancing the approach and enhancing the consistency

  Citation: 2268

  Authors: Mai T., Andrijana, Judy D., Jan M., Andrew, Scott A.

• Outlier and influence diagnostics for meta-analysis

  Citation: 2048

  Authors: Wolfgang, Mike W.-L.

• Consistency and inconsistency in network meta‐analysis: concepts and models for multi‐arm studies

  Citation: 1597

  Authors: J. P. T., D, J. K., G, A. E., I. R.

• Robust variance estimation in meta‐regression with dependent effect size estimates

  Citation: 1494

  Authors: Larry V., Elizabeth, Matthew C.

• Basics of meta‐analysis: <i>I</i>² is not an absolute measure of heterogeneity

  Citation: 1413

  Authors: Michael, Julian P. T., Larry V., Hannah R.

• Which academic search systems are suitable for systematic reviews or meta‐analyses? Evaluating retrieval qualities of Google Scholar, PubMed, and 26 other resources

  Citation: 1409

  Authors: Michael, Neal R.

• Meta‐analysis and<scp>Mendelian</scp>randomization: A review

  Citation: 1323

  Authors: Jack, Michael V.

• Indirect and mixed‐treatment comparison, network, or multiple‐treatments meta‐analysis: many names, many benefits, many concerns for the next generation evidence synthesis tool

  Citation: 1310

  Authors: Georgia

---