University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Meta-Analysis in Library and Information Science: Method, History, and Recommendations for Reporting Research

Saxton, Matthew L.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/3668

Description

Title
Meta-Analysis in Library and Information Science: Method, History, and Recommendations for Reporting Research
Author(s)
Saxton, Matthew L.
Issue Date
2006
Keyword(s)
  • Research methods
  • Meta-analysis
Abstract
Meta-analysis is a method for summarizing statistical findings across multiple research studies. It is a useful method for assessing the level of agreement or disagreement surrounding a given research question. The ability to perform meta-analysis is dependent on the level of consistency in measures and the amount of data shared in published research. Guidelines to minimum standards for reporting research may improve the quality of writing in published research. Inconsistencies in reporting research findings across studies, failing to provide enough detail on method and instrumentation to facilitate replication, and the multiplicity of different operational definitions or measures for the same concept all pose difficulties to successfully attempting any form of research synthesis. This article presents a methodological explanation of meta-analysis, a literature review describing the application of meta-analysis in library and information science, and guidelines for reporting quantitative research that would enable subsequent researchers to perform meta-analysis.
Publisher
Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
ISSN
0024-2594
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/3668
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2006 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Owning Collections

Library Trends 55 (1) Summer 2006: Research Methods PRIMARY
Library Trends 55 (1) Summer 2006: Research Methods. Edited by Lynda M. Baker.