An Illustration of the Consequences of Meta-Analysis Model Choice

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2008

Keywords

meta-analysis, research synthesis, research methods, Pygmalion effect

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428106287393

Abstract

Fixed- and random-effects models represent two different approaches to analyzing and understanding data with meta-analysis. The current article describes the results of a two-part study to illustrate the effect of choice of meta-analytic model on study conclusions. Part 1 illustrates the effect of model choice by analyzing data simulated to conform to either fixed- or random-effects scenarios with both fixed- and random-effects methods of data analysis. Part 2 uses two published meta-analyses to show that methodological choices, in this case mainly the choice of fixed- or random-effects models, affect estimates both of mean effect size and of the random-effects variance component (REVC). Overall, results suggest that random-effects procedures represent the best initial choice when conducting a meta-analysis.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Organizational Research Methods, v. 11, issue 1, p. 35-53

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