What is a meta-analysis?

A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple independent studies to identify patterns, trends, and overall effects regarding a specific research question or hypothesis. By aggregating data, a meta-analysis enhances the power of statistical analysis, allowing researchers to draw more robust conclusions than individual studies might offer alone. This approach helps to address inconsistencies among studies, provides a comprehensive assessment of effects, and can improve the generalizability of findings.

In the context of research, a meta-analysis is particularly valuable because it synthesizes diverse studies, which may have varying sample sizes, methodologies, or results, to achieve a clearer understanding of an effect or phenomenon. The outcomes from individual studies are pooled together, often using statistical methods, which can also help to assess the magnitude of an effect and its variability across different studies. This methodology is crucial in fields where replication and validation through multiple studies are essential for establishing reliable evidence.