Introduction to Meta-Analysis

by Michael Borenstein

This book provides a clear and thorough introduction to meta-analysis, the process of synthesizing data from a series of separate studies. Meta-analysis has become a critically important tool in fields as diverse as medicine, pharmacology, epidemiology, education, psychology, business, and ecology. Introduction to Outlines the role of meta-analysis in the research process Shows how to compute effects sizes and treatment effects Explains the fixed-effect and random-effects models for synthesizing data Demonstrates how to assess and interpret variation in effect size across studies Clarifies concepts using text and figures, followed by formulas and examples Explains how to avoid common mistakes in meta-analysis Discusses controversies in meta-analysis Features a web site with additional material and exercises A superb combination of lucid prose and informative graphics, written by four of the world’s leading experts on all aspects of meta-analysis. Borenstein, Hedges, Higgins, and Rothstein provide a refreshing departure from cookbook approaches with their clear explanations of the what and why of meta-analysis. The book is ideal as a course textbook or for self-study. My students, who used pre-publication versions of some of the chapters, raved about the clarity of the explanations and examples. David Rindskopf, Distinguished Professor of Educational Psychology, City University of New York, Graduate School and University Center, & Editor of the Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics.

The approach taken by Introduction to Meta-analysis is intended to be primarily conceptual, and it is amazingly successful at achieving that goal. The reader can comfortably skip the formulas and still understand their application and underlying motivation. For the more statistically sophisticated reader, the relevant formulas and worked examples provide a superb practical guide to performing a meta-analysis. The book provides an eclectic mix of examples from education, social science, biomedical studies, and even ecology. For anyone considering leading a course in meta-analysis, or pursuing self-directed study, Introduction to Meta-analysis would be a clear first choice. Jesse A. Berlin, ScD 

Introduction to Meta-Analysis is an excellent resource for novices and experts alike. The book provides a clear and comprehensive presentation of all basic and most advanced approaches to meta-analysis. This book will be referenced for decades. Michael A. McDaniel, Professor of Human Resources and Organizational Behavior, Virginia Commonwealth University

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Research

632 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2009

Reviews

[Leanna Aker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very technical manual on conducting a meta-analysis. This book has me quaking in my boots, but I feel it is a thorough reference that will become dog-eared as I progress through my dissertation. :-)

[Jacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing example of how a book on applied statistics can be written - hands-on, keeping the math 'formal enough', full of actually useful examples.

[Robert Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is pretty much just what it says on the cover: an introduction to the mathematical or statistical techniques used to combine research results from disparate studies using meta-analysis. I particularly appreciate the level of detail the book provides. Each technique is fully explained and the book contains several worked examples walking the reader through the entire process of performing a meta-analysis. Readers looking for a book specifically on applied statistics will find it useful because it skips right to the applications rather than getting bogged down in proofs and theory (personally, I wouldn’t have minded some more theory, but that’s not the point of this sort of a book, so the authors actually did the right thing overall).

The one place I do think they should have spend some more time is on the design of meta-analytic studies themselves. Obviously this is not a book on research design, but it would have been useful had the authors devoted at least a chapter to the considerations one should keep in mind when choosing which studies to include or exclude and how to weight them. As it stands, readers who are as new to meta-analysis as to most benefit from this sort of introductory work will likely need to pick up at least one other book to fill in some of those gaps.

There is a chapter near the back that deals with some of the more philosophical considerations and addresses some of the common objections to meta-analysis. That’s quite useful, but probably would have been better placed near the front of the book so the reader could develop a more robust conceptual understanding of the subject before diving right in to all the formulae.

On the whole, I found it quite useful, but will likely need to supplement it with additional reading before I can actually make use of it.

[Khanh Duong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a systematical way about meta-analysis, covering both basic concepts and advanced issues. Not focus on mathematics in detail but try to convey the main ideas and theories,the readers will not get lost in so many equations in meta-analysis. Postgraduates and researchers in health fields are suitable readers for it. The references provided in this book are also plus points. I read it as studying a meta-analysis course and conducting research on meta-analysis in my master's program.

[Rachel Renbarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple language but it doesn't go as complex as some of us with stupid projects need

[Tatiana Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

PERFECT FOR YOUR FIRST MA PROJECT!!!!