Methodology: Meta-analysis Flashcards
What is a meta-analysis?
The compilation of multiple secondary sources of previous research to establish a new, combined conclusion.
What is the aim of meta-analyses?
To find patterns in studies that are comparable for their similar methods to guide the field of research.
When are meta-analyses often conducted?
- When there is a large pool of research to draw one conclusion from
- Where research may be inconsistent due to being from different cultures, time periods, or locations
What do they focus on that is different to other psychological research?
The direction and size of the effects across studies, not the statistical significance.
What is a requirement of a meta-analysis?
That it should only contain studies that have sound methodology so that the best evidence is pulled together into an overall analysis, called the ‘best evidence synthesis’.
List 2 examples of what meta-analyses have given useful insight into.
1) The effectiveness of interventions, such as interventions for criminals
2) The impact of independent variables, such as which factors of JDM are most influential
Identify the main way meta-analyses are used in criminal psychology.
To assess the success rates of treatments for offenders.
Evaluate the generalisability using a high point.
P - High
E - They gather a large sample of many studies of differing cultures, time periods, and locations
E - Therefore findings are representative on a mass scale
Evaluate the reliability using a high and low point.
P - High
E - They involve the study of quantitative data such as crime stats of recidivism when looking at treatments
E - Therefore analysis of treatments will be objective increasing consistency
P - Low
E - There will be nuances in the procedures of each study that will differ from the rest of the sample
E - Therefore direct comparisons cannot be made as easily
Are there any applications?
P - Yes
E - They are often used to look at the success rates of treatments and highlights issues with jury decision making
E - This means research can be used to help show the effectiveness and so possibly lead to improvements
Evaluate the reliability using a 2 low points.
P - Low
E - As the analysis involves secondary data there may be elements of subjectivity on interpretation
E - This is therefore unscientific and may be influenced by researcher bias
P - Low
E - A meta-analysis only uses published data and ignores using unpublished data so researchers may be selective in the studies they choose
E - Therefore leading to publication bias which could distort findings
Evaluate the ethics using a high point.
P - Ethical
E - Due to using pre-published researcher so doesn’t directly involve the use of ppts
E - Therefore ethical guidelines don’t need to be considered to avoid harm to ppts or their informed consent which may have caused problems in other research
