Meta-Analysis and the Development of Knowledge

With the widespread application of meta-analysis, it is important to examine the role of meta-analysis in the development of knowledge. Researchers have proposed that meta-analysis provides us with an overview of where the research field has been, summarizes and integrates extant research findings,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Perspectives on psychological science 2012-01, Vol.7 (1), p.79-92
Main Authors: Chan, MeowLan Evelyn, Arvey, Richard D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accumulation
Applied psychology
Cognitive psychology
Conceptual frameworks
Industrial and organizational psychology
Meta analysis
Psychological research
Psychology
Research methods
Research studies
Social psychology
Special Section: Sizes of your Science
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Summary:With the widespread application of meta-analysis, it is important to examine the role of meta-analysis in the development of knowledge. Researchers have proposed that meta-analysis provides us with an overview of where the research field has been, summarizes and integrates extant research findings, and suggests directions for future research efforts. Some researchers further argue that meta-analysis can contribute to the accumulation of knowledge and the progress of science. In this article, these claims are examined from an epistemological perspective. Using Kuhn's (1962, 1970b) framework, the authors discuss how meta-analysis contributes to the progress of both normal science and extraordinary science and thus plays an important role in knowledge development in a field.
ISSN:1745-6916
1745-6924
DOI:10.1177/1745691611429355