title: Rethinking Meta-Analysis: Applications for Air Pollution Data and Beyond.
abstract: Meta-analyses offer a rigorous and transparent systematic framework for synthesizing data that can be used for a wide range of research areas, study designs, and data types. Both the outcome of meta-analyses and the meta-analysis process itself can yield useful insights for answering scientific questions and making policy decisions. Development of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards illustrates many potential applications of meta-analysis. These applications demonstrate the strengths and limitations of meta-analysis, issues that arise in various data realms, how meta-analysis design choices can influence interpretation of results, and how meta-analysis can be used to address bias and heterogeneity. Reviewing available data from a meta-analysis perspective can provide a useful framework and impetus for identifying and refining strategies for future research. Moreover, increased pervasiveness of a meta-analysis mindset-focusing on how the pieces of the research puzzle fit together-would benefit scientific research and data syntheses regardless of whether or not a quantitative meta-analysis is undertaken. While an individual meta-analysis can only synthesize studies addressing the same research question, the results of separate meta-analyses can be combined to address a question encompassing multiple data types. This observation applies to any scientific or policy area where information from a variety of disciplines must be considered to address a broader research question.
authors.affiliation: Gradient, 20 University Rd., Ste. 5, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.affiliation: Gradient, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petito Boyce
authors.affiliation: Gradient, Cambridge, MA.
authors.forename: Sonja N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sax
authors.affiliation: Gradient, Cambridge, MA.
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.affiliation: Gradient, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Robyn L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Prueitt
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans
keywords: Air pollutants; bias; data synthesis; heterogeneity; meta-analysis