A researcher locates twelve research studies that all examine the effect of a different cognitive-behavioral strategy for decreasing pain—hypnosis, distraction, focusing, music therapy, and so forth
Why would these twelve studies make a poor meta-analysis?
a. Cognitive-behavioral interventions are not a suitable focus for all patients, and consequently should not be studied.
b. Twelve studies would be too many for synthesis of any kind.
c. Secondary analyses of pooled data are not used for meta-analysis on pain, because of interindividual differences in perception.
d. The result, if statistically significant, will produce a general recommendation, "If in pain, do something cognitive-behavioral," which is meaningless.
ANS: D
A meta-analysis is conducted to statistically pool the results from previous studies into a single quantitative analysis that provides one of the highest levels of evidence about an intervention's effectiveness. This approach has objectivity, since it includes analysis techniques to determine the effect of an intervention while examining the influences of variations in the studies selected for the meta-analysis. The studies to be included in the analysis need to be examined for variations or heterogeneity in such areas as sample characteristics, sample size, design, types of intervention, and outcomes variables and measurement methods. Heterogeneity in the studies included in a meta-analysis produces broad and meaningless results.
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