meta-synthesis

Microfinance, recognized as a transformative approach in economic and social development, particularly within low-income communities, has garnered increasing attention. The primary objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of microfinance literature utilizing a framework-based approach grounded in the ADO-TCM model, which employs the meta-synthesis approach. This framework provides an in-depth analysis of the structure of relevant studies, encompassing predecessors, research decisions, research outcomes (ADO), utilized theories, study contexts, and research methods (TCM). An extensive search in reputable scientific databases yielded 50 highly cited articles related to microfinance, which were then subjected to in-depth content analysis. Relevant constructs were extracted using open and axial coding strategies, leading to the identification of seven categories of predecessors, eight types of research decisions, and six primary outcomes. Furthermore, this study identified 14 theories, seven study contexts, and three research methods pertinent to microfinance. Consequently, the study highlights existing gaps in current research and suggests future research areas to enhance microfinance strategies and increase their impact.

This study aimed to identify, extract, and classify the factors and requisites influencing the development of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) using a qualitative research method. A systematic review was conducted, examining 1,869 relevant studies published over 23 years (2000-2023). After applying various filters, 91 studies most closely aligned with the objectives were selected for final analysis. The factors and requisites for REIT development were then classified into 4 overarching and 12 organizing themes. The findings indicated that the factors and requisites for REIT development could be analyzed across 4 broad categories: functional, supervisory and supportive, infrastructural, and structural and governance. The functional aspects included attention to financial and economic indicators, operational processes, investment principles, and risk management. The supervisory and supportive aspects covered legislation, policymaking, and regulatory frameworks. The infrastructural aspects encompassed cultural, educational, innovative, and technological dimensions. The structural and governance aspects involved monitoring of managers, investors, and corporate governance. The use of the meta-synthesis approach in this research ensured a comprehensive and holistic review of both domestic and international studies in this field, facilitating the identification and categorization of the multifaceted dimensions influencing REIT development.

Non-fungible tokens are known as unique digital assets that are stored in the blockchain. Their non-fungibility makes them different from other crypto assets. Therefore, their pricing is different from the pricing of similar tokens The purpose of this research is to identify the basic characteristics and better understanding of the factors affecting the pricing of these tokens in meta synthesis method Which is done by using Sandelowski's seven steps and by searching the title, abstract and main text of the sources in the databases that were provided until September 2023. In total, among the 86 sources found, 35 researches reached the content acceptance stage. This research is one of the first researches that has identified the factors affecting the pricing of non- fungible tokens, while so far these factors have not been presented using the meta synthesis method. The results indicate that 30 factors are effective in the pricing of Non-fungible tokens, which are categorized into six components and two main groups. The validity of this research has been explained by explaining the steps and using the critical assessment skills program method, and the reliability was measured and confirmed using the intraclass correlation method.

This study adopted a qualitative approach to investigate the obstacles faced by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in financing for their production activities. Through the utilization of the meta-synthesis method and a comprehensive review of 23 relevant articles, this research identified 57 factors categorized into 10 key dimensions that acted as barriers to financing. These dimensions encompassed aspects, such as financial infrastructure and accessibility, legal framework and political implications, information asymmetry and transparency, collateral requirements, asset-based financing, loan terms and conditions, credit assessment and risk perception, market dynamics and competition, technology advancements and digitalization, social and economic factors, regional inequalities, financing mechanisms, and innovations. By presenting a structured framework, this research aimed to enhance the comprehension of these challenges and provide potential solutions. 

In today's intricate global economic landscape, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) represent thriving sectors characterized by their innovation, dynamism, and growth potential. These enterprises often hailed as the backbone of economies worldwide play a pivotal role in driving economic development, generating employment opportunities, and fostering technological advancements. However, despite their significant contributions, SMEs encounter a myriad of formidable challenges that impede their prosperity and hinder their optimal contribution to economic progress. From legal obligations and market competition to resource constraints and technological barriers, these businesses navigate a complex environment fraught with obstacles. Among the various hurdles they face, one of the most prominent one pertains to production financing, wherein SMEs encounter difficulties in accessing capital and securing adequate financial resources. Such barriers manifest in the form of stringent lending criteria imposed by financial institutions, information asymmetry and lack of transparency, restrictions on collateral, and exorbitant transaction costs. Consequently, these enterprises grapple with limited budgetary options, thereby curtailing their growth prospects and impeding their capacity to innovate and compete in the market. This study endeavored to bridge the existing research gaps by conducting an in-depth examination of the barriers faced by SMEs in securing financing for production activities. The primary objective was to develop a comprehensive model for analyzing production financing barriers in small and medium-sized enterprises. Such a model can serve as a valuable tool for policymakers, financial institutions, industry associations, and entrepreneurs alike, empowering them to formulate effective strategies aimed at overcoming these obstacles.

This study adopted a qualitative approach following the methodology proposed by Sandelowski and Barso (2007) for data collection. The methodology consisted of 7 steps, which involved formulating research questions, conducting a systematic literature review, selecting relevant studies, extracting information from the chosen studies, analyzing and synthesizing the findings, ensuring quality control, and presenting the outcomes. To conduct a comprehensive search, reliable databases were systematically queried using relevant keywords and phrases, such as "small and medium businesses", "production financing", "financing barriers", and related terms. The search covered titles, abstracts, and keywords. Inclusion criteria were applied, including the selection of non-Persian qualitative papers published between 2014 and 2023 indexed in ISI or Scopus, as well as valid Persian articles published between 2013 and 2014. Initially, 282 articles were identified and after a rigorous selection process, 23 articles were chosen for the final analysis. To ensure validity, entry criteria, team meetings, expert opinions, and EndNote software were employed. Reliability was determined by critically evaluating and scoring the articles. Parameters, such as authors, publication year, research purpose, methodology, and findings, were considered during the evaluation process.

Culmination of the meta-synthesis section yielded an analysis model illustrating the barriers to production financing in small and medium-sized businesses. Being presented in Figure 1, this model encompassed the key findings of the research.

This study explored the financing challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises using a hybrid approach and identified 57 indicators across 10 key dimensions that acted as barriers to financing. The dimension of "financial infrastructure and access" encompassed challenges related to accessing financial institutions, banking services, and venture capital. Additionally, the study examined microfinance as an alternative avenue with its own possibilities and challenges. In the dimension of "legal environment and political consequences", barriers, such as legal transparency, compliance, administrative ease, and government support programs were discussed as they impacted the performance of SMEs. The dimension of "information asymmetry and transparency" focused on challenges related to accessing information, transparency in lending practices, and disclosure requirements. The dimension of "collateral requirements and asset-based financing" addressed the complexities and challenges of evaluating and accepting collateral from SMEs, including collateral policies, asset valuation methods, loan-to-value ratios, and non-traditional collateral acceptance criteria, which often posed difficulties for businesses with limited assets. The dimension of "loan terms and conditions" highlighted the challenges that SMEs encountered when seeking financing, including issues related to interest rates, loan duration, flexibility of repayment terms, and collateral requirements. The dimension of "credit assessment and risk understanding" encompassed challenges, such as credit score assessment, financial statement analysis, business viability assessment, and understanding market and economic conditions. The dimension of "market dynamics and competition" explored the diverse effects of market dynamics on the access of SMEs to financing, including factors, such as market structure, competitive landscape, industry concentration, market entry barriers, and impact of new technologies. The dimension of "technology developments and digitization" examined how technology and digital advancements were reshaping the financing landscape for SMEs, including advancements in digital infrastructure, adoption of new financial technologies, and cybersecurity measures. The dimension of "economic and social factors and regional inequalities" addressed various challenges, including levels of economic development, income inequality, access to education, and infrastructure development. Lastly, the dimension of "alternative financing mechanisms and innovations" explored diverse avenues for SMEs to obtain financing. Peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding platforms, and other innovative financing approaches provided these companies with new opportunities to raise capital and offer more flexible terms. In conclusion, this research shed light on the multifaceted barriers that SMEs faced in accessing financing. By comprehensively examining these dimensions, policymakers, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs could develop effective strategies to overcome these challenges and foster a more conducive environment for SMEs to thrive and contribute to economic growth.
This study proposed recommendations for addressing the barriers that hindered the access of small and medium-sized businesses to production financing. The key recommendations included enhancing transparency and access to financial information, simplifying laws and improving tax transparency, implementing financial education programs to enhance financial literacy, fostering collaboration among the government, financial institutions, and industries to develop innovative financing solutions, investing in digital infrastructure and cybersecurity measures, and implementing supportive policies to reduce regional disparities. It is important to acknowledge the limitations of this research, such as its reliance on the existing literature, which may have implications for the quality and comprehensiveness of the studies reviewed. To gain a deeper understanding of financing trends and dynamics and devise appropriate interventions, it is recommended to undertake longitudinal, comparative, exploratory, and interdisciplinary research.

This research seeks to provide a model for explaining the dimensions of customer sentiment management of asset management services, including investment funds and portfolio-managed accounts, using meta-synthesis application. By reviewing and screening 254 papers written between 2002-2022, coding was done by studying 49 studies. Finally, the components were classified with 32 final codes as basic themes and 5 codes as organizing themes. The reliability and validity of the model were calculated by a Kappa coefficient equal to 0.78, which is at the level of excellent agreement. Since this study uses the meta-synthesis method, its innovation is a method that examines all national and international studies in this field and identifies the dimensions of the subject completely and comprehensively for the readers. According to the results, the components of customer sentiment management dimensions of asset management services were categorized with five themes including the importance of sentiment management, influencing factors on customer sentiments, sentiment characteristics, sentiment management practices, and results of sentiment management. The results can be used by managers of asset management institutions in designing strategies for managing customers' sentiments.

The present study compared the predictive performance of machine-learning models and statistical models for forecasting profit and operational cash flow by using a combination of accrual and cash variables. The research method encompassed 3 main stages: data set and variable selection, modeling, and estimation. The study focused on companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE), analyzing data from 184 companies over the period of 2012-2021. The findings indicated that accrual variables exhibited greater explanatory power than cash variables in predicting net profit and future operating cash flow. Furthermore, the comparison of machine-learning and statistical models for forecasting net profit and future operating cash flow revealed that the artificial intelligence approach exhibited superior capability. Specifically, symbolic regression among the machine-learning models and the probit model among the statistical models demonstrated higher performance. Additionally, the results indicated that certain statistical models outperformed some machine-learning models while, on average, machine-learning models outperformed statistical models.

Today, with the widespread changes in the global economy, business risks and opportunities are constantly changing. therefore, companies need procedures to identify and evaluate, manage and monitor their business risks and opportunities. according to the conditions mentioned the key question is how should a company take effective steps to manage the risks and opportunities in their business in order to maximize value for them? enterprise risk management is created to answer the needs of organizations about this matter and it has been the focus of business and academic community in recent decades. the concept of enterprise risk management (ERM) is a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, prioritizing and controlling risks and their overall impact on the whole company and with a holistic view. the main purpose of this research is to extract and group the components and dimensions of corporate risk management and identify the requirements and contexts for its effective implementation in the agricultural conversion industries using the Meta-synthesis method. the tool of this review is previous documentation, which comprises a total of 60 studies and the method of data analysis is open coding. the results show that 204 identified codes can be classified into 33 main dimensions.

After the financial crisis from 2007 to 2009, the regulation and supervision on the financial sector has undergone massive changes and became stricter. Financial institutions that were not being monitored by the time of the crisis are now under regulation and supervision, and those that were under regulation, have become obliged to comply with strict regulations. This research has designed a model of regulation for financial markets in Iran with an adaptive approach to international financial markets. Meta-synthesis method is used to examine questions in this research. Since regulation on financial markets is an important issue, there are many articles in this regard, however due to the different political, economic and legal conditions in each country, the dimensions, components, effective factors and strategies used in the regulatory process in financial markets are somewhat different and involve quantitative and qualitative studies with a broad subject dispersion. Therefore, in this research, the Meta-synthesis method is considered as an appropriate method for achieving a comprehensive combination of factors influencing the mechanisms of financial market regulation based on translation of reviewed literature. Hence, based on this, the dimensions and indicators that affect the regulation and supervision of financial markets were extracted in two separate sections.

Financial stress, both in the financial markets and in society, harms economic growth and social welfare by spreading financial instability and disrupting the functioning of the financial system. meta-synthesis is one of the types of meta- Study methods that using Sandolowski and Barso's seven-step method. Kappa index method and Spss and Maxqda softwares were used to evaluate the reliability and quality control of the qualitative method. The kappa index value was calculated to be %1/95, which is in excellent agreement.The research findings include the conceptual research model and 111 factors affecting the financial stress of individual investors and 26 factors as the consequences of financial stress in the Tehran Stock Exchange. Determining the factors and designing the final research model can improve the understanding of the concept of financial stress and become a suitable tool to help investment trustees and capital market policymakers to build trust and attract potential investors. This study identifies a comprehensive list of factors affecting the financial stress of individual investors in the Tehran Stock Exchange and its consequences and presents the relevant conceptual model.To date, these factors have not been mentioned in Internal and external studies of the capital market and related fields.