Study Types
Meta-Analysis
A statistical method combining results from multiple studies for stronger conclusions.
A meta-analysis is a quantitative research method that pools data from several independent studies examining the same research question. By combining data from multiple trials, meta-analyses increase statistical power and can detect effects that individual smaller studies may miss. They produce summary effect estimates with confidence intervals and are especially valuable in supplement research where individual trials often have small sample sizes. A well-conducted meta-analysis of high-quality RCTs provides the highest level of evidence in evidence-based medicine.