Keywords

meta-analysis, quantitative review, effect size, research synthesis

Abstract

The authors provide a primer on meta-analysis. Topics are covered at an introductory level and references are provided for readers wanting further information. Topics covered include literature search procedures, coding manuals and extracting information from studies, calculating effect sizes, combining effect sizes, fixed and random effects analysis, influence analysis, moderator analysis, multivariate meta-analysis, and publication bias. All analyses are illustrated using k= 18 behavioral marital therapy versus control studies. The authors conclude by considering criticisms of meta-analysis, introducing reporting standards in meta-analysis, and reviewing software options for meta-analysis. An appendix for the paper includes the data and annotated Stata code for replicating the results presented.