Definition of Meta-Analysis, from Oxford English Dictionary

Oxford English Dictionary

meta-analysis,             n.

1. Philos. Analysis of the grounds and assumptions on which a theory, explanation, or account is based; an instance of this.

   1953 Philos. Rev. 62 462 We are told that the definition of cardinal number is ëone of Russell's best known accomplishmentsí.., yet there is nothing in the meta-analysis to indicate why it should be.

   1953 Jrnl. Philos. 14 114 Philosophically speaking, Mr. Levy's work is one of the clearest and most extended meta-analyses of the functional approach.

   1965 Philos. Q. 15 369 While we cannot analyse further what a philosophical explanation or account consists in, for the acceptability of such an analysis will itself rest on some undefined notion of what is reasonable or makes sense, it does not follow that we must suspend our philosophical activities until such a meta-analysis is produced.

   1991 Philos. & Phenomenol. Res. 51 715 My principal reservations..concern not the basic theory itself.. but..his meta-analysis, i.e., his claims about the presuppositions, implications, and significance of that account.

2. Statistics. Analysis of data from a number of independent studies of the same subject (published or unpublished), esp. in order to determine overall trends and significance; an instance of this.

   1976 G. V. GLASS in Educ. Res. Nov. 3/2 My major interest currently is in what we have come to call..the meta-analysis of research. The term is a bit grand, but it is precise and apt... Meta-analysis refers to the analysis of analyses.

   1987 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 5 Dec. 1434/1 Wald et al have concluded from a recent meta-analysis that people exposed to passive smoking have a small but definite increased risk of developing lung cancer. 1993 Guardian 30 July 18/8 We now have a group of scientists who specialize in undertaking meta-analysis, the analysis of all the trials on a particular subject looking at the results as though they were of one.