Meta-Analysis

• Meta-analysis

  • Secondary data
  • Come from different cultures and times
  • Large data amounts from large sample
  • Aims to reach overall conclusions
  • Used when firm conclusions cannot be drawn without comparing multiple results or if there is conflicting/inconsistent data
  • Overall analysis will usually be reported in terms of effect sizes
  • To do Meta-Analysis researcher will:
  • Choose data range e.g. 5 years and collect articles on topic in this
  • Narrow research focus before analysis e.g. specific disorders
  • Combine results from articles and analyse looking for consensus
• Meta-Analysis Evaluation

  • Strengths:
  • Cost/time-effective
  • Uses large data amount
  • No cost of producing primary data across different cultures/disorders/treatments
  • No ethical issues
  • Analysing data that already exists on medication side-effects
  • Not administering more medication
  • Weaknesses:
  • Researcher has no involvement in data collection
  • Cannot be certain on methods reliability or validity
  • Publication bias
  • Research with no significant difference or correlation is often unpublished
  • Not used
  • Distorting overall conclusions; exaggerating difference?