Meta-Analytic Methods for Criminology

Abstract

Meta-analysis was designed to synthesize empirical relationships across studies, such as the effects of a specific crime prevention intervention on criminal offending behavior. Meta-analysis focuses on the size and direction of effects across studies, examining the consistency of effects and the relationship between study features and observed effects. The findings from meta-analysis not only reveal robust empirical relationships but also identify existing weaknesses in the knowledge base. Furthermore, meta-analytic results can easily be translated into summary statistics useful for informing public policy regarding effective crime prevention efforts.