Conducting a Qualitative Umbrella Review for Novice Researchers: A Critical Reflection of Primary Documents

Authors

Mónica Fontana, Research and Psychology Department, Complutense University of Madrid, SpainFollow
Celia Camilli Trujillo, Research and Psychology Department, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain

Abstract

The need for scientific evidence in education has accelerated systematic reviews. However, the practice of conducting umbrella reviews is not yet common in education. Among the possible reasons for the scarce number of umbrella reviews in education is the lack of knowledge of the steps required to conduct them and the specific challenges of this method. Their usefulness in the educational context lies in their ability to offer new findings of great scope and transferability based on evidence from multiple systematic reviews in an efficient and in-depth manner. This study provides a critical reflection on the methodological implications of conducting a qualitative umbrella review, as well as an in-depth examination of the challenges and difficulties associated with analyzing the primary documents of systematic reviews forming part of the umbrella review. The study seeks to offer guidance for future novice researchers interested in synthesizing scientific evidence on a given topic. By developing an umbrella review using the example of digital storytelling in education, the study explores key questions and challenges in the review of primary documents.

Keywords

qualitative umbrella review, digital storytelling, education, research methodology, evidence synthesis

Author Bio(s)

Mónica Fontana is a passionate educator and researcher. She studied a diploma in Primary Teacher Education at ESCUNI in Madrid (Spain) in 1989, and a Degree in Philosophy and Education Science at Complutense University of Madrid in 1994. After further studies She got a PhD in Education at Complutense University of Madrid. She worked in diverse private and government universities up to got the current position as Associate Professor at Complutense University of Madrid in the Research and Psychology In Education Department. She worked for three years in the Research M & E Department at Luigi Giussani Institute of Higher Education in Kampala (Uganda). Currently, her interests are in the implementation of qualitative and mixed research methods in conducting research in low-income countries and complex social context. Her research interests includes research methods, teacher education, SEL and HOT skills development. In conducting this journey, different postdoctoral grants have been crucial, for instance at the Family Studies and Research University Centre (Universitá del Sacro Cuore) in Milan and at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta.Madrid. Email: mfontana@ucm.es (Corresponding author)

Celia Camilli Trujillo is a researcher and professor in the Department of Research and Psychology in Education (Investigación y Psicología en Educación) at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), focusing on educational research, mixed methods, and art therapy, with affiliations including the BUNDIBÁR project and the Faculty of Education, located at Calle Rector Royo Villanova, 1, 28040 Madrid, Spain.

Publication Date

1-11-2026

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2025.8793

Recommended APA Citation

Fontana, M., & Camilli, C. (2025). Conducting a qualitative umbrella review for novice researchers: A critical reflection of primary documents. The Qualitative Report, 30(10), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2025.8793