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Cited by 397Meta-analysis and systematic reviewsPsychology Research and BibliometricsDiverse Academic Research Areas

Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis

Cooper, Harris, Patall, Erika, Lindsay, James·2009·The SAGE Handbook of Applied Social Research Methods
DOI 10.4135/9781483348858.n11
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Abstract

As the volume of primary research across all fields of social science continues to grow at rapid rates, research synthesis has become more important today than at any other time in history. With the development of metaanalysis, a set of procedures for summarizing the quantitative results from multiple studies, the rigor, systematicity, and transparency of research syntheses was greatly improved. However, a number of developments, including the creation of the Cochrane Collaboration and Campbell Collaboration, have heightened the profile of meta-analysis in recent years. Furthermore, recent advancements in analytic strategies, including the use of a random effects model of error, the development of meta-regression, and improved methods for dealing with missing data and data censoring, have enhanced the popularity, efficiency, and trustworthiness of meta-analyses. We begin this chapter with a brief history of meta-analysis and research synthesis. We then describe the different stages of a rigorous research synthesis. Next, we outline a set of generally useful meta-analytic techniques and follow this with a discussion of some of the difficult decisions that research synthesists face in carrying out a meta-analysis. We conclude by addressing some broader issues concerning criteria for evaluating the quality of knowledge syntheses in general and meta-analyses in particular. A general theme of the chapter is that social scientists who are conducting research syntheses need to think…

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Authors
Cooper, H., Patall, E., & Lindsay, J.
ORCID
Patall, Erika
Venue
The SAGE Handbook of Applied Social Research Methods
Publisher
SAGE Publications, Inc.
Published
2009
Pages
344-370
DOI
10.4135/9781483348858.n11
OpenAlex
W3021683231
Cited by
397
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 40 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 21
FWCI
74.45
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Sage eBooks (publishedVersion)
  • DukeSpace (Duke University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychology Research and Bibliometrics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Diverse Academic Research Areas
Keywords
evidence synthesis, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, Cochrane Collaboration, Campbell Collaboration, random effects models, meta-regression, missing data, data censoring, history of meta-analysis, social science research

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