Fragile Findings, Complex Conclusions, and Meta-Analysis in Special Education

Abstract

An introduction to meta-analysis as a method of research synthesis is presented. Research in special education is marked by many sources of variation that lead to fragile and complex findings. Although such outcome variation is valuable, controversy surrounds the best method for providing a comprehensive summary. Traditional review methods found in narrative and box-score techniques possess both theoretical and pragmatic difficulties that limit their usefulness. Quantitative methods like meta-analysis are suggested to achieve the scope and form necessary for accumulating evidence. The methods of meta-analysis are discussed, including problem formulation, study location, classifying and coding studies, data analysis, effective size interpretation, data aggregation, and conclusions. The advantages and problems of the meta-analysis approach are then discussed.