1. Chapter 25 Integrating Research Evidence: Meta-Analysis and Metasynthesis

2. Meta-Analysis
Information from various studies is used to develop a common metric (effect size)
Effect size yields information about the existence of a relationship between variables and an estimate of its magnitude

3. Advantages of Meta-Analysis
Objectivity
Power
Precision

4. Criteria for Using Meta-Analytic Techniques in a Systematic Review
The research question being addressed or the hypothesis being tested across studies should be very similar, if not identical
Concern regarding whether there is a sufficient base of knowledge for statistical integration
Consistency of evidence

5. Steps in a Meta-Analysis
Formulating the problem
Designing the meta-analysis study
Searching the literature for data
Evaluating study quality
Extracting and encoding data for analysis
Calculating effects
Analyzing the data
Writing a meta-analytic report

6. Undertaking Metasynthesis
“A family of methodological approaches to developing new knowledge based on rigorous analysis of existing qualitative research findings”

7. Steps in a Metasynthesis
Formulating the problem
Designing a metasynthesis study
Literature search
Evaluating study quality
Extracting and encoding data for analysis

8. Steps in a Metasynthesis (cont’d)
Analyzing and interpreting data
-Noblit and Hare Approach
-Patterson, Thorne, Canum, and Jillings Approach
-Sandelowski and Barroso Approach
Writing a metasynthesis report

9. Guidelines for Critiquing Systematic Reviews and Metasyntheses