What is meta-analysis?

Meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies to derive a comprehensive understanding of a particular research question. This method allows researchers to aggregate data across studies, thereby increasing the overall sample size and enhancing the power of statistical analyses. By synthesizing results, meta-analysis can reveal overall trends, identify patterns that might not be evident in individual studies, and provide a more precise estimate of effect sizes.

This approach is particularly valuable in fields such as psychology, where findings can vary significantly from study to study. Through meta-analysis, researchers can draw more robust conclusions and offer clearer insights based on a greater body of evidence, making it a foundational tool in evidence-based practice.

A comprehensive literature review provides a summary of existing research but does not quantify or combine results in the way that meta-analysis does. A qualitative analysis of conversations focuses on themes and meanings in data rather than statistical synthesis. Ranking different articles might involve subjective criteria or impact factors but does not capture the integrative statistical process that meta-analysis embodies.