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Meta‐Analysis: A Perspective for Research Synthesis
Author(s) -
Smith Mary Colette,
Naftel David C.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
image: the journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 0743-5150
DOI - 10.1111/j.1547-5069.1984.tb01375.x
Subject(s) - computer science , objectivity (philosophy) , meta analysis , data collection , coding (social sciences) , management science , perspective (graphical) , research design , data science , research methodology , epistemology , sociology , engineering , medicine , artificial intelligence , social science , philosophy , population , demography
A review of the literature is an important early step in the scientific process. Metaanalysis is a methodology that increases the objectivity in a synthesis of the results from the research literature. It is the application of research and statistical techniques, which are employed in objective primary research to the analysis of a collection of studies. Meta‐analysis provides a method of step‐by‐step defining, collecting, coding, quantifying, synthesizing, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting information from a collection of research studies. The unit of inquiry is the study. This review provides an introduction to meta‐analysis and a summary of the methodology in a metaanalysis as well as evaluations of meta‐analysis by other authors.