Meta Analysis and Systematic Review

Question 1

What are the strengths of meta analysis and systematic review?

Answer 1

• More participants and variation increases validity
• Meta analysis reaches an overall conclusion with a statistic

Question 2

What is the weakness of meta analysis and systematic review?

Answer 2

• Studies can vary considerably and research designs will vary so they are not truly comparable

Question 3

What is a systematic review?

Answer 3

Considering a number of studies to reach a general hypothesis

Question 4

What are the steps for a systematic review?

Answer 4

1. Identify an aim
2. Search for other studies with a similar aim
3. Look through databases and read studies
4. Assess studies
5. Come up with a general conclusion

Question 5

What is a meta analysis?

Answer 5

When a researcher looks at findings from a number of studies and provides a combined statistic to comment on effectiveness

Question 6

What are the steps to a meta analysis?

Answer 6

1. Data is analysed
2. The technique produces an effect size as a dependent variable to assess overall trends (e.g weight loss programme leads to 30lb average loss)