Synthesis Methods and Reporting Tool (SMART) for Research Syntheses in Applied Linguistics

This article presents the Synthesis Methods and Reporting Tool (SMART), a guide on methodological and reporting practices for all types of research synthesis (RS) in applied linguistics. Informed by RS checklists and tools in other disciplines, SMART is developed based on published RSs and methodological publications on RS in applied linguistics. To ensure SMART is field-specific, a group of RS specialists in applied linguistics provided input and feedback. SMART is underpinned by four principles (STAR): systematicity, transparency, accessibility, and reflexivity, and comprising three key stages (preparation, method, and reporting); it aims to cover all procedures and practices that need to be considered…