Meta Analysis Research

A quantitative analysis method, meta analysis is largely utilized to categorically evaluate existing research work and arrive at feasible conclusions with regards to the research conducted. Meta analysis research is undertaken in the medical, social science, business, education, ecology, and other arenas. In the medical arena, results of a meta analysis in medical research can be effectively utilized to anticipate the outcome of a specific treatment or to understand the underlying implications of a disease.

The advantage of systematic review and meta analysis is relatively larger and involves a combination of quantitative assessments pertaining to intricate and challenging research activities. The characteristics of the outcome of specific research based on hypotheses that are extensively assessed are vital to understanding the implication of meta analysis in quantitative research. Also, lack of clarity in recognizing the impact of existing research could generate flawed results.

Meta analysis research that has been arduously executed emerges as a valuable tool with regards to research-based medicine. What renders meta analysis as a most sought-after method of quantitative analysis is its ability to be integrated with various other analytical tools in systematic review and meta analysis.

Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Based on the aims and the research design of this study, meta analysis was chosen as the method of choice in answering the research question. Meta analysis in quantitative research is defined as a non-experimental method used to pool together data obtained from two or more experimental or observational studies which have similar or related hypotheses (Bruce, Pope and Stanistreet, 2008; Anderson, 2010).

As suggested by Polit-O'Hara and Beck (2010), systematic reviews were previously basically narrative until recently when statistical methods are now used to synthesize findings from multiple studies.

Importance of Meta Analysis in Medical Research

Meta analysis in medical research is useful in enabling objective conclusions to be made from a variety of findings which are sometimes conflicting (Villari, La Torre and Leyland, 2005). It also increases the probability that an observed association is true, as sample size is increased and confidence interval narrowed (Polit-O’Hara and Beck, 2010).

However, as with any research method, meta analysis qualitative research that is not properly conducted either due to avoidable bias or inappropriate combination of studies could be misleading (Sutton, 2000).

Why Choose Meta Analysis in Quantitative Research

The choice of a systematic review and meta analysis as the quantitative research method was informed by the availability of observational studies which, when pooled together, make a larger sample size, thus increasing power and enabling generalizations regarding the relationship between optimal and non-optimal birth weights and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Other factors which influenced the choice of a meta analysis in medical research is that cohort studies—which make up most of the research on birth weight and the risk of disease in adulthood—would normally take a long time to conduct if it were to be primary research, and this would not be possible within the time frame available for this study.

Systematic Review and Meta Analysis as a Valuable Tool

Furthermore, the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes (Chen, Magliano and Zimmet, 2012; Herman and Zimmet, 2012; Campbell, 2011) suggests the urgent need for interventions based on synthesis of already available evidence in this regard, making systematic review and meta analysis a valuable approach.