title: The meta-analytic approach to research integration.
abstract: A quantitative research method for aggregating findings from empirical research, meta-analysis is useful for systematically integrating findings gleaned from individual studies. Meta-analysis goes beyond the mere summarization and critique of research findings, to conducting statistical analyses on the outcomes of similar studies. Overall, meta-analysis represents a vast improvement over traditional methods of research review, by providing a more thorough description of the current status of research in an area and a more precise estimate of the effects of treatments or interventions. This article describes the meta-analytic approach to research integration, discusses the advantages that it offers for integrating nursing research, and highlights some of the methodological issues surrounding this approach.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. jonyskiw@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Onyskiw
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results