PMID: 9439872Jan 24, 1998Paper

Of apples and oranges, file drawers and garbage: why validity issues in meta-analysis will not go away

Clinical Psychology Review
D Sharpe

Abstract

This paper examines how threats to the validity of meta-analysis have been dealt with by clinical researchers employing this approach to literature review. Three validity threats were identified--mixing of dissimilar studies, publication bias, and inclusion of poor quality studies. Approaches to addressing these threats were evaluated for their effectiveness and popularity by surveying 32 published meta-analyses in clinical psychology. Distrust of meta-analysis, however, was found to transcend these validity threats. Other explanations for why this popular research strategy continues to receive widespread criticism were considered. Suggestions were made for how meta-analysis might better address these concerns.

References

Sep 1, 1977·The American Psychologist·M L Smith, G V Glass
Mar 1, 1992·The American Journal of Cardiology·W E Boden
Jan 1, 1990·Lung·S I Rennard
Aug 3, 1990·Science·C Mann
Nov 1, 1987·Annals of Internal Medicine·S Neff
Sep 16, 1988·Science·K W Wachter
Feb 19, 1987·The New England Journal of Medicine·H S SacksT C Chalmers
Feb 1, 1983·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·G T Wilson, S J Rachman
May 1, 1982·The American Psychologist·J T Landman, R M Dawes
May 1, 1981·Controlled Clinical Trials·T C ChalmersA Ambroz
May 1, 1995·Journal of Clinical Psychology·S ThurberK Welter
Oct 1, 1995·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·G C Hall
Jul 1, 1995·Academic Medicine : Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges·C J BlandG Maldonado
Apr 1, 1995·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·D M Stein, M J Lambert
Apr 1, 1995·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·I KirschG Sapirstein
Jan 1, 1995·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·G GrégoireJ Le Lorier
Jan 1, 1995·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·A R Feinstein
Jan 1, 1995·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·R E Slavin
Nov 1, 1994·The British Journal of Clinical Psychology·W A Gebhardt
Feb 1, 1995·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·D R Murtagh, K M Greenwood
Jan 1, 1994·Experimental Brain Research·E Brenner, A V van den Berg
Nov 1, 1994·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·W W Parmley
Aug 1, 1994·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·A C HoutsH Abramson
Sep 1, 1994·The British Journal of Clinical Psychology·J KuglerG M Krüskemper
Feb 1, 1994·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·R DarH Omer
Apr 1, 1993·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·G A ClumR Surls
Dec 1, 1993·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·C R Carlson, R H Hoyle
Dec 1, 1993·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·G I EngelsR F Diekstra
Dec 1, 1993·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·G C HallR Hirschman
Dec 1, 1993·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·W R ShadishT Okwumabua
Oct 1, 1993·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·A Cepeda-Benito
Aug 1, 1993·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·T D Borkovec, E Costello
Dec 1, 1995·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·E A GaffanS M Kemp-Wheeler
Nov 1, 1995·The British Journal of Clinical Psychology·A CalevM Fink
Oct 1, 1952·Journal of Consulting Psychology·H J EYSENCK

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 22, 1999·Genetic Epidemiology·L H Wise, C M Lewis
Feb 4, 2006·Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery : Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery·Chad E AfmanDavid L Steward
Jul 4, 2006·Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery : Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery·Matthew T Brigger, Scott E Brietzke
Jun 14, 2002·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Michael L PrendergastDarren Urada
Sep 26, 2008·Psychotherapy Research : Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research·William E Piper
Jan 6, 2006·The Clinical Neuropsychologist·George J Demakis
Nov 22, 2011·Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology : the Official Journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists·Myriam J Sollman, David T R Berry
Jul 23, 2013·British Journal of Anaesthesia·F EspitalierB Giraudeau
Aug 13, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·John G EwenAnders P Møller
Feb 2, 2012·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Daniel Y T FongKar-keung Cheng
Mar 16, 2013·European Journal of Orthodontics·Spyridon N PapageorgiouAthanasios E Athanasiou
Jul 21, 2012·Annals of Dyslexia·Wim TopsMarc Brysbaert
Oct 6, 1999·British Journal of Audiology·G Andersson, L Lyttkens
Aug 29, 2014·Current Medical Research and Opinion·Carmelo Scarpignato, Luigi Gatta
Jan 2, 2003·Perceptual and Motor Skills·M T BradleyG Stoica
Feb 22, 2012·American Journal of Preventive Medicine·Stan E Weed
Nov 29, 2011·Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment·Frank S PearsonZachary Hamilton
Oct 6, 2010·Clinical Psychology Review·Maria KleinstäuberWolfgang Hiller
Aug 11, 2005·Emergency Medicine Australasia : EMA·Steven Doherty
Jul 29, 2003·Research in Nursing & Health·Vicki S Conn, Marilyn J Rantz
Nov 1, 2009·Early Intervention in Psychiatry·Nicholas J K BreitbordeScott W Woods
Jun 17, 2003·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica·S Nassir Ghaemi, Federico Soldani
Feb 26, 2010·Scandinavian Journal of Psychology·Etty G A Wielenga-MeijerDaniël H J Wigboldus
Apr 13, 2013·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Gorm ShackelfordSteven M Sait
Oct 13, 2006·Social Science & Medicine·Margarete SandelowskiJulie Barroso
Jun 5, 2014·BioMed Research International·Giovanni Strona, Simone Fattorini
Apr 8, 2016·Multivariate Behavioral Research·Farid Tarrahi, Martin Eisend
Aug 25, 2015·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Eric B LeeMichael P Twohig
Jun 17, 2015·Medical Education·J M Monica van de RidderOlle T J ten Cate
Jun 29, 2016·Revista Española De Cardiología·Giuseppe Gargiulo, Marco Valgimigli
Aug 9, 2016·Research Synthesis Methods·Michael T Brannick, Mehmet Gültaş

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.