Relationship between Meta-Analysis and Other Research Methods - Essay Example

? Relationship between Meta-Analysis and Other Research Methods Relationship between Meta-Analysis and Other Research Methods Introduction The central point of this essay is explaining a number of factors and characteristics that compare and contrast meta-analysis with other research methods. It will give the similarities between meta-analysis and other methods of research. Meta-analysis research method uses data from research studies that have already conducted. This method identifies different sets of data that have some similarity and combines them into one summarized set. Similarity of data sets used in meta-analysis is in terms of the studies addressing the same research question. Meta-analysis method uses the characteristics of data to make conclusions rather than making general conclusions about data. The method applies when a research deals with quantitative data. Use of secondary data poses the risk of unreliability of meta-analysis. Therefore, researchers need to test the accuracy of secondary data before using it to make conclusions in a research (LaValley, 2005). Other methods of research Questionnaire-Based survey is another research method used in statistics. The method involves isolating samples from a population, obtaining data from the samples and making conclusions about the population based on the sample. Questionnaire method uses questions to obtain data from the field. The method translates research objectives into questions. Focus group is another qualitative research method that goes beyond explaining the quantitative aspects of data. Focus group refers to all participants who take part in discussions about a research. This method applies for open-ended research studies that cover a wide range of objectives (Jowett & O’Toole, 2006). Historical research method involves studying what happened in the past and identifying the push factors for these past events. Historians use this method to explain past events by applying scientific skills, conscience and other tools of analysis (Methods Network, 2011). Observation method involves humans using their senses to determine the events taking place and their effects. Observation method can be direct or indirect. Direct observation involves active actions of the researcher to collect data while indirect observation involves collecting data from recorded information, for example, from movies (Management Study Guide, 2012). Action research method involves participation of a group of people who suffer from a similar problem. Attempts to solve their problem reveal the best ways of solving such problems. Applications of research methods in the business sector Historical research is the research method that most business organizations use in their operations. This is because the method involves reviewing past data in the history of an organization. Scholars will be interested in determining the impacts of past events on their performance. The businesses must use past data to identify different variables that affect their performance. Researchers can also use questionnaire method to assess the impact of various strategies on employees and other members of the organizations. Employees answer the questions that the management asks through the questionnaires. The answers help the management in determining whether certain policies are successful in the research. Researchers use focus group method to explain their financial statements. This research method explains quantitative data to give it extra meaning. Businesses explain their financial statements by giving reasons that lead to a loss or profit. Businesses use observation method in observing trends in a population including consumption of goods and services. Action research method is the result of participation of members who suffer from the same problems. Most researchers use action research method to determine the impacts of change among members of the organizations. Change affects all members of the organization and their attempts to deal with the effects reveal the best ways to tackle change in organizations. Businesses can use such data in implementing various change strategies in their processes. Similarities and differences between meta-analysis and other research methods Meta-analysis Questionnaire Action Research Historical Research Focus Group Method Observation Method 1 It utilizes secondary data from past research studies Involves collecting primary data from the field Uses both primary and secondary data Relies on information about past events Relies on both primary and secondary data Involves collection of primary data from the field 2 Accuracy of data and competence of the researcher affect the reliability of the method Reliability depends on accuracy of the respondent and the structure of the questionnaire Reliability is a factor of accuracy in solving problems Reliability is a factor of the accuracy of past data Accuracy of data and viewpoints affect reliability Reliability depends on the ability of the respondent to observe what is in the field 3 Publication bias affects meta-analysis It limits itself on data from the field only Does not depend on published data Publication bias influences collection and analysis of data. Publication bias triggers different reactions among participants. Does not depend on secondary data 4 Various sectors and organizations can apply this method It gathers information from a variety of sources. Applies to specific fields and areas Method can be used by various sectors and fields Its application is not limited to specific people or sectors It applies in many fields and organizations 5 This method requires the researcher to have some level of expertise Researcher must understand the various methods of structuring and issuing questionnaires Problem solving does not always require skills or expertise Requires some skills of expertise in the field of analysis and decision making Participants (focus groups) must have a good understanding of the research topic. Does not require any level of skills or expertise 6 The method applies to quantitative data only. Can be used to collect quantitative and qualitative data Applies to both qualitative and quantitative data Uses quantitative data in most cases It is a qualitative research method Applies to both qualitative and quantitative data Summary of the table The table above shows the main similarities and differences between meta-analysis and other methods of research. The main similarity between meta-analysis and questionnaire method is that both depend on accuracy and expertise of the researcher and the respondent respectively. Reliability of meta-analysis is a factor of the ability of the researcher to summarize data from previous research studies and similarly, the reliability of questionnaires depends on the structure and the ability of the respondent to understand the questions (Leung, 2001). The main difference is that meta-analysis applies for quantitative data only while questionnaire method applies for both qualitative and quantitative data. Meta-analysis and action research methods share the similarity of depending on the accuracy of data. Action research method relies on accurate data on problem solving. Similarly, meta-analysis is only reliable if it uses accurate data. For instance, organizations use action research method to assess the effect of certain policies like change in job structure on employees. Employees give their views on how they dealt with the change, but the most accurate and best ways that they provide form the basis of the research. Most of the above methods, including meta-analysis have unlimited applications. The business, education, health, insurance and banking sectors can apply these methods in their research initiatives. All of the above methods can be applied in the business context. Businesses will always undergo the process of change due to changes in the economy, which brings in the need to understand various triggers of change. Understanding of triggers of change and other aspects of the organization is only possible through research. However, meta-analysis differs with action research method in terms of areas of application. Different sectors and organizations can use meta-analysis in their research while the use of action research has some limitations. Action research method applies in areas involving identification and solving of a problem that affects stakeholders in the given area (Chisholm & Max, 1993). For instance, not all organizations can apply this method. Organizations that do not value the efforts of employees and other parties in solving problems will not make sense of this method. The table shows that the issue of publication bias affects all the methods that share the similarity of depending on past data. Publication bias is a concept that explains how researchers publish the relevant materials only and leave out the irrelevant ones. From the table, the main similarity of meta-analysis and the other methods is in terms of application and effect of accuracy of data. The major difference of meta-analysis and other methods comes in through the data type used. Meta-analysis uses quantitative data unlike many research methods that use the combination of qualitative and quantitative data. Conclusion Research is an essential element in day-to-day encounters of human beings. Things are changing in all areas, and the society must adapt to such changes and their impacts. Understanding requires the society to have knowledge about the changes, which is only possible through research. Researchers have come up with different methods of conducting research, and they are still developing new methodologies. The essay has identified the similarities and differences between meta-analysis and other research methods. Arguing from the essay’s perspective, it is possible for two research methods to obtain the same data for a research question. The choice of the best research method depends on a number of factors. For example, the data type in a research will influence the choice of research method. Meta-analysis method, for instance, will be effective if the research deals with quantitative and secondary data. The main similarity between different research methods and meta-analysis is that all of them require accuracy of data used in the research. Most of the methods also require some level of expertise just like the meta-analysis method. For instance, the questionnaire method requires proper structuring of the questions to make respondents’ understanding easy. The difference between the methods calls for the need to combine various research methods to help in improving on the limitations of one research method (Walker, 2011). However, the combination is only possible if the research deals with the same data type (qualitative or quantitative data). Therefore, it is necessary for a researcher to understand issues that relate to a research before choosing on the research method. References Chisholm, R., & Max, E. (1993). Features of Emerging Action Research. Human Relations 46 (2), 275-98 Jowett, M., & O’Toole, G. (2006). Focusing researchers’ minds: Contrasting experiences of using focus groups in feminist qualitative research. Qualitative Research 6(4), 453–472. LaValley, M. (2005). A consumer's guide to meta-analysis. Arthritis Care Res, 10:208-213. Leung, C. (2001). How to conduct a survey. StudentBMJ, 9, 143-5. Management Study Guide. (2012). Observation Method. Retrieved on 22 November 2012 at http://www.managementstudyguide.com/observation_method.htm. Methods Network, (2011). Tools and Methods for Historical Research. Retrieved on 22 November, 2012, at http://www.methodsnetwork.ac.uk/redist/pdf/wkp4.pdf Walker, R. (2011). Reliability in scientific research: Improving the dependability of measurements, calculations, equipment, and software. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Read More