Do you need help deciding between a systematic review vs. a meta-analysis? This article is for you.
You may already know that a systematic review and a meta-analysis both use data extracted from past research studies. Both require the systematic search of these studies in academic databases and other sources. Then findings from the identified studies are collated systematically to answer the research question.
A systematic review is a methodical approach to answering a pre-specified research question using data extracted from past studies. It aims to achieve scientific rigor by demonstrating credibility, transparency, and repeatability when addressing a specific research question. On the other hand, a meta-analysis is a statistical method used to pool findings from various studies into a single point of estimate. Therefore, a meta-analysis is used in the results section of a systematic review. Of course, the specific meta-analysis methods used must also be declared in the methods section.
Well, that’s all about a systematic review vs a meta-analysis.
While preparing to write this article, I also gathered some feedback on social media. I wanted to know what people really want to know regarding the difference between a systematic review and a meta-analysis. I came across an interesting question from someone who appears to be a student.
Based on the above post from the r/statistics subreddit on the Reddit platform, let’s answer some of the frequently asked questions.
The student asking the question above was torn between conducting a systematic review and a meta-analysis because they felt it was much easier to conduct a systematic review than a meta-analysis. That’s a purely subjective decision to make. According to Siddaway and colleagues, ‘When the reviewer wishes to bring together many studies that have empirically tested the same hypothesis, a quantitative review is called for.’ How do you interpret the word ‘wishes’ in this context? In my opinion, the authors implied that doing a meta-analysis should be someone’s wish and not compulsory. They went ahead and listed the reasons that should compel someone to do a systematic review, as shown in the screenshot below.
In our experience, if it is possible to do a meta-analysis, then just do it, even if it means seeking help from a statistician. This is especially important if you want to publish your manuscript in a reputable academic journal.
No, for a systematic review without a meta-analysis, no statistical analysis is involved. However, if you’re conducting a systematic review of quantitative studies, you will need to interpret statistical findings. That means you cannot escape statistical information in systematic reviews, whether they include a meta-analysis or not. Qualitative systematic reviews use only qualitative studies, hence you may not encounter statistical information anywhere.
Let’s revisit how the systematic review works to support the claim above. Pollock and colleagues summarized it all here: ‘Key stages in the production of systematic reviews include clarification of aims and methods in a protocol, finding relevant research, collecting data, assessing study quality, synthesizing evidence, and interpreting findings.’ Since quantitative research mostly uses statistical techniques, you must have adequate statistical knowledge to successfully conduct such a review. For more information on how a systematic review works, read this article.
Are you wondering why conducting a meta-analysis is beneficial? The main reason meta-analyses are important is because they provide a point estimate in research. Many studies have tested the effectiveness of interventions like medication, while others have assessed diagnostic accuracy across different countries and samples. What you may realize is that some studies disagree with others. The estimates of effect size, diagnostic accuracy, or the relationship between variables are never the same between studies. Such uncertainties in research can make it extremely difficult to inform clinical decision-making. A meta-analysis pools these findings into a single point estimate, which is cohesive and can make decision-making much easier. That’s why systematic reviews and meta-analyses are considered the highest level of evidence in healthcare sciences.
The forest plot below shows the summary statistic obtained from integrating findings from seven studies in a meta-analysis conducted by Singh and colleagues. A close look reveals high heterogeneity in the standard mean difference across individual studies. Some studies have negative values, suggesting the intervention may not be effective. A majority have positive values indicating the intervention works in different magnitudes or effect sizes. The meta-analysis assigned weight to each of the seven studies and then provided an overall estimate of the standard mean difference. Thus, this estimate represents the findings of all the studies that have been conducted on that topic, which is of course more powerful.
A systematic review answers a focused research question by deriving data from past research, whereas a meta-analysis is a statistical method of pooling findings from various studies into a representative point estimate. It does not matter which is easier to conduct between a systematic review and a meta-analysis. Instead, if it is possible to do a meta-analysis, just do it. Even if it means seeking help from a statistician. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are considered the highest level of evidence in evidence-based practice.
SystematicReviewPro is a systematic review writing service that can save you time conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. We can produce any type of systematic review publishable in a reputable academic journal. Publishing a systematic review and meta-analysis can boost your academic profile and enhance your job prospects.
Delivering a high-quality product at a reasonable price is not enough anymore.
That’s why we have developed 5 beneficial guarantees that will make your experience with our service enjoyable, easy, and safe.
You have to be 100% sure of the quality of your product to give a money-back guarantee. This describes us perfectly. Make sure that this guarantee is totally transparent.
Each paper is composed from scratch, according to your instructions. It is then checked by our plagiarism-detection software. There is no gap where plagiarism could squeeze in.
Thanks to our free revisions, there is no way for you to be unsatisfied. We will work on your paper until you are completely happy with the result.
Your email is safe, as we store it according to international data protection rules. Your bank details are secure, as we use only reliable payment systems.
By sending us your money, you buy the service we provide. Check out our terms and conditions if you prefer business talks to be laid out in official language.
