How to Write Effective Meta-Analysis Research Papers
                     How to Write Effective 
Meta-Analysis 
Research Papers
What is Meta-Analysis Research 
Study?
Various studies are done on similar or approximately 
similar topics. These studies are done at different time-
period and in different regions. Each study has its 
analysis. When a study combines and statistically 
analyzed the finding of various studies, such a study is 
termed as meta-analysis study. The purpose of a meta-
analysis study is to integrate the findings of various 
studies done on almost similar topics.
In most cases, the studies involved in a meta-analysis 
are randomized, controlled clinical trials. Meta-analysis 
is done to arrive at the precise conclusion about the 
risk factor for a disease, the effect of treatment on the 
disease, or the use of specific treatment against the 
disease. 
How to Write Effective Meta-
Analysis Research Papers?
Writing meta-analysis requires a lot of scrutinies and 
result in analysis. Following are the rules to be followed 
for writing the good and effective meta-analysis research 
paper:
•Research question and type of meta-analysis: This 
is the first and one of the important steps for good meta-
analysis. 
• Establish inclusion and exclusion criteria: Before 
starting the meta-analysis, you should have a definite 
criterion in you’re and to select and reject studies. 
•Detailed use of databases: The author should be well-
versed with various databases. You should perform a 
comprehensive, organized and systematic literature 
search to find the relevant studies. 
•Use of various guidelines for meta-
analysis: Various guidelines for conducting a meta-
analysis are available. These include Meta-analysis of 
Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) 
statements, Quality of Reports of Meta-analyses of 
Randomized Controlled Trials (QUORUM), and 
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and 
Meta-analyses (PRISMA).
• Identifying statistical methods: The author should 
identify the best statistical methods for meta-analysis 
that significantly reduces biasness.
•Detailed data and data integrity: Incorporate 
comprehensive data in your meta-analysis research 
paper. The quality of the study should also be good 
for accurate results.
•Use of statistical software: The author should 
have access to various meta-statistics software to 
carry out statistical analysis. Help from a 
professional statistician can be taken for carrying 
analysis.
•Coding forms: The author should define accurate 
coding forms to obtain relevant statistics. Good 
coding forms help in obtaining high-quality results.
• Interpreting results and suggesting future 
scope: Pay special attention to the discussion part 
of the research paper. Through discussion, the 
author discusses the results of a meta-analysis in 
comparison to current literature. Future scope of 
meta-analysis helps to initiate new studies in the 
forward direction.
What is the Need of Meta-Analysis 
Study?
Meta-analysis finds its importance in different aspects of 
the research process. These include:
To simplify the complex data: Meta-analysis is done 
to simplify the complex data. Data from various studies 
are taken and analyzed statistically.  Further, meta-
analysis provides a more complex data analysis related 
to outcome, safety, and efficacy.
Publications: Meta-analysis is required during the 
publication of the primary study in journals. Meta-
analysis plays an important role in recognizing the 
outcomes available from the prior studies which are 
related to the research topic in context. Through meta-
analysis, the researcher submits the prior data in the 
introduction of the primary research study.
Studies with conflicting results: Studies on a 
similar research topic may have conflicting results. 
For instance, some studies advocate the use of 
calcium in pre-eclampsia while other studies indicate 
that there is no effect of calcium supplementation on 
pre-eclampsia. 
Grant applications: Fund or grant is required to 
perform a new study. For preparing the proposal for 
the fund, meta-analysis is done to consolidate the 
available data and to determine the need for a new 
study.
Performing new studies: Meta-analysis analyzes 
all the relevant studies available on a specific 
research topic. This helps in determining the specific 
requirement for conducting a new study. Meta-
analysis provides insight about which outcomes are 
already measured in prior data and which still 
requires an answer.
What are the Characteristics of 
Meta-Analysis Research Study?
Following are the characteristics of a meta-analysis 
research study:
•Statistical method: Meta-analysis is done to 
establish statistical significance among the studies 
already done in a specific area of research with 
conflicting results. It helps in increasing the validity of 
differences in different studies. Meta-analysis requires 
detailed statistical skills.
•Use of prior data: Meta-analysis does not initiate 
altogether new research i.e. it is not primary research. 
It uses the data from the studies that had already 
taken place.
• Evidence evaluation: Meta-analysis is done to 
determine the strength of evidence present in the 
prior art in context to a specific area of research. It 
also helps in determining the need for new primary 
research.
• Increased sample size: Many individual studies 
have a common problem of small sample size. This 
problem is solved through meta-analysis. A meta-
analysis combines the samples of different studies to 
reach an accurate, valid and precise conclusion.
•Different subsets: Meta-analysis evaluates the 
cause-effect relationship in different studies i.e. 
different subsets of the subjects. The result of meta-
analysis can be extrapolated to a larger population.
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