title: Meta-analysis for descriptive research.
abstract: Although nurses have begun to use meta-analysis, a review of the nursing literature demonstrates that its use has not been maximized. Meta-analysis can be employed to synthesize descriptive as well as experimental research, yet attention in nursing has focused almost exclusively on meta-analysis techniques for, and meta-analytic studies of, experimental research. Furthermore, nursing literature has emphasized use of the effect size index (d) rather than the correlation index (r); the latter may, in some cases, be the more suitable metric, particularly with meta-analysis of correlational studies. An argument is made for the value of meta-analysis as a technique for integrating descriptive research, and an overview of different meta-analytic approaches to data analysis using the correlational index with descriptive research is provided.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1289.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Timmerman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Stevenson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D015203:Reproducibility of Results