What is a key strength of meta-analysis?

Meta-analysis is a powerful statistical tool that synthesizes findings from multiple studies to derive a more robust conclusion than any single study could provide on its own. One of its key strengths lies in its ability to mitigate issues related to small sample sizes by pooling data from various studies. When individual studies have limited sample sizes, their results may lack the power to detect real effects or may produce findings that are influenced by random error.

By pooling data, meta-analysis increases the overall sample size, thus enhancing the statistical power and the reliability of the findings. This approach allows researchers to draw more generalizable conclusions and identify trends that may not be apparent in smaller, isolated studies. Moreover, the process of combining studies helps account for variability in results, offering a clearer picture of the effects being studied across different contexts and populations.

In contrast, relying on a single large sample might overlook the richness of data from diverse studies, focusing solely on one perspective. Additionally, focusing exclusively on observational data can limit the scope of analysis, while excluding qualitative research may provide an incomplete understanding of the phenomena being studied. Therefore, the ability of meta-analysis to aggregate data from multiple sources is what makes it an invaluable method in psychology and other fields.