methodology: meta analysis

Question 1

what is meant by a meta analysis?

Answer 1

analysis of analyses, using results from different studies about the same issue

Question 2

if a number of studies separately find the same answer and a meta analysis is carried out, the answer becomes stronger because ….

Answer 2

the studies support one another, strengthening reliability

Question 3

how does a meta analysis adjudicate where studies find different answers?

Answer 3

if one study finds that pre trial publicity has an effect on jury decision making but another study finds the opposite, this may be worthy of a meta analysis

Question 4

what is primary data?

Answer 4

• info observed/collected directly from first hand experience
• data has been collected by researcher
• relates to aims/hypothesis of the study
• eg answers from a questionnaire

Question 5

what is secondary data?

Answer 5

• info gathered for a purpose other than the current one
• eg government statistics

Question 6

what data is used for a meta analysis?

Answer 6

secondary

Question 7

describe some strengths of secondary research

Answer 7

• time and cost effective due to relying on existing data sources
• could be the only way of obtaining information about the past
• allows researchers to make comparisons over time and compare multiple sources

Question 8

describe some weaknesses of secondary research

Answer 8

• data could have methodological flaws that the researcher is unaware of, reducing validity
• outdated so may not be representative of present population
• objectives may not be appropriate for the study in question
• information may be incomplete which could be confusing for the researcher

Question 9

state the order of steps for carrying out a meta analysis

Answer 9

• define research question
• perform literature search
• select the studies
• extract the data
• analyse the data
• report the results

Question 10

what is publication bias?

Answer 10

positive studies being more likely to go to print

Question 11

what is search bias?

Answer 11

• search for studies producing unintentionally bias results
• incomplete set of keywords / varying strategies to search data bases
• search engine used

Question 12

what is selection bias?

Answer 12

• researchers should clearly define criteria for choosing from the list of potential studies
• ensures unbiased results