What is meta-analysis primarily used for in research?

Meta-analysis is primarily used as a statistical technique to integrate and summarize the results from multiple studies addressing the same research question. By pooling results from different studies, meta-analysis allows researchers to estimate the overall effect size of a particular variable or treatment, enhancing the reliability and generalizability of the findings. This method is particularly valuable in social psychology, where individual studies may have small sample sizes or varying results.

The strength of meta-analysis lies in its ability to account for variability among study results and to identify patterns across a body of literature. It provides a more comprehensive understanding of the evidence by determining whether the effects observed in various studies are consistent and statistically significant, drawing more robust conclusions than any single study could offer. This approach is particularly useful when there is inconsistency in findings or when researchers want to identify moderators or mediators of effects across a range of contexts.