What is meta-analysis?

Meta-analysis, literally the statistical analysis of statistical analyses, describes a set of procedures for systematically reviewing the research examining a particular effect and combining the results of independent studies to estimate the population effect size.

By pooling study-specific estimates of a common effect size and adjusting those estimates for sampling and measurement error, a meta-analyst can generate a weighted mean estimate of the effect size that normally reflects the true population effect size more accurately than any of the individual estimates on which it is based.

How is this possible?

To reduce the variation attributable to sampling error, estimates obtained from small samples are given less weight than estimates obtained from large samples. (Click here to see a simple example.)

To reduce the effects of measurement error, estimates are sometimes adjusted by dividing each study’s effect size by the square root of the reliability of the measure(s) used in that study (usually the Cronbach’s alpha). Estimates obtained from less reliable measures are thus adjusted upwards to compensate.

There are at least three reasons for doing a meta-analysis.


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