Meta Analysis:RM

Question 1

What is Meta Analysis?

Answer 1

A research method which uses secondary data. The researcher combines results of multiple studies on the same research questions to produce an overall single result.

Question 2

What is a Strength of Meta Analysis?

Answer 2

It’s high external validity. By combining multiple studies together, the meta analysis has a very large combined example. Increasing the chance that this is a representative sample, therefore the results are more generalisable.

Question 3

Why is a Strength of meta analysis it’s Internal Validity?

Answer 3

As they combine multiple results of the study, meta analysis helps counteract problems within an individual study. For example, if investigator effects undermine a single study this would have an overall lower effect on the results within meta effects as it only effects one study.

Question 4

Why is a Limitation of meta analysis the vulnerability to publication bias?

Answer 4

Meta analysis only study study published studies, this creates an issue as publishers are more likely to publish studies which are positive and interesting rather than informal. Negative and boring studies are more likely to be filed away, “ file drawer problem” ( refers to bias publication ). Therefore, the studies which are unpublished won’t be included in meta analysis which could result in a bias overall result.