Identifying and Analyzing Fields and Themes of Social Innovation on Meta synthesis approach

Considering the complex social challenges and the inadequacy of technological innovation in solving them, in recent years, the innovation literature has tended towards social innovation. Despite the increasing attention to social innovation, it is a broad concept and various fields of study have played a role in it. Therefore, this research aimed to to prepare a comprehensive framework of the study areas of social innovation on Meta synthesis approach (Sandelowski & Barroso model) in order to reduce the dispersion of this study area and clear the way for researchers interested in this field. The statistical population was the researches published in the Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus databases, which were selected with the purposeful sampling method of 34 articles. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data. At the end of 75 codes, 12 sub-themes and eight dimensions or main themes include institutions, governance and local development, systematic change and dealing with social challenges, partnerships, alliances and networks, psychological aspects, management. and business, ethical aspects and development of transdisciplinary approach were identified and analyzed. Finally, based on the findings, a framework for studies in the field of social innovation was presented and topics for future research were suggested.