Question 1: The most important part of a meta-analysis is the decision to use a fixed or random...

Question

Question 1: The most important part of a meta-analysis is the decision to use a fixed or random effects analysis. Argue against this statement.

Question 2: Imagine you work for the Black Dog Institute. In your role, you are asked to recommend a research methodology that will be used to provide the evidence base for the direction of an upcoming project into major depressive disorder. The project is an information-based campaign to increase awareness of the stigma that people with major depressive disorder experience in the workplace. You can assume there is a body of literature on this topic.

Part A. Argue that meta-analysis will provide a sound evidence base for the upcoming Black Dog Institute project.
Part B. Design a research study/project that uses meta-analysis to inform the direction of the upcoming Black Dog Institute project.

Questions 1, 2A and 2B will each be evaluated on the following criteria.
• Convincingness of the argument/proposal.
• Strength and quality of the evidence used to support the argument. Citations
provided as required to substantiate the evidence presented.
• Clear and concise link between the evidence presented and the question.
• Style. This includes prose writing in formal scientific style, consistent and coherent language, APA formatting, and conforming to the word limit.

Your response to each question should address the following:
Question 1. 30 marks. Up to 400 words.
• Describe at least one feature, though possibly more features, of meta-analysis that is/are more important than the decision to use a fixed or random effects analysis.
• Argue for and defend why the identified feature/s are more important than the decision to use a fixed or random effects analysis.
Question 2A. 35 marks. Up to 400 words.
• Outline key advantages of meta-analysis with respect to the upcoming project and justify why these advantages of meta-analysis will benefit the upcoming project.
• Briefly outline known shortcomings and/or challenges in the use of meta-analysis.

Defend why these shortcomings of meta-analysis will not weaken the evidence base for the upcoming project.
Question 2B. 35 marks. Up to 400 words.
• Briefly describe the proposed method (like an elevator pitch).
• Follow that up with a detailed proposal. Demonstrate understanding of the defining features of meta-analysis and how they are implemented in practice to address a research question in a scientifically rigorous manner.

Parul · Accepted Answer

Answer 1. It might seem that the most critical aspect of meta-analysis is the decision to utilise random or fixed impact of analysis. However, in reality this decision to use fixed or random analysis is not the most important part in the meta-analysis. This is because while performing the meta-analysis, investigator might make certain choice that usually influence the overall results (Sánchez-Meca, J. and Marín-Martínez, F., 2010).  This also includes deciding how to comprehend the research, screen and select the research that is primarily based on standardise set of objective criteria that actually takes into consideration the incomplete data, overall analysis of data and lastly accounting for the publication bias. Essentially the entire process of meta-analysis makes entire procedure as malleable because of several methodological choices that are performed in fulfilling the meta-analysis which is perhaps not comprehended by the results. For example, if we are performing the meta-analysis of similar RCTs on the overall efficacy of the local anaesthesia as well as meta-regression of the various observational research on the impacts of consumption of meat respectively (Brohan, E., Henderson, C., Wheat, K., Malcolm, E., Clement, S., Barley, E. A., ... & Thornicroft, G., 2012).  Generally, seven or eight techniques of meta-analysis are present with various values of p which is further obtained through average ATEs. For instance, profound scholar, Wanous and his colleagues evaluated four pairs of meta-analyses on the four topics of 
· Relationship of Satisfaction and Job Performance
· Literal job evaluation and previews
· Correlation of the ambiguity and conflicts on role
· Absenteeism and relationship of job satisfaction
All these explain different judgement calls which are performed by the researchers that may yield different results. This can bring the problem of lot of inconsistencies in the overall outputs produced using meta-analysis. Most often it is wrongly assumed that an important component of the systematic review of procedure. A meta-analysis may be performed on different trials of the medical treatment, in an overall effort to receive the sound comprehension of how well the treatment actually is implemented. Nevertheless, it is very easy to follow the details on meta-analysis terminology which is shared and used by Cochrane Collaboration. Overall utilisation of "meta-analysis" may actually refer to the statistical methods which is perhaps forma a strong combination of evidence. This also leaves various other parameters of 'research synthesis' or even the synthesis of evidence like blending the information from the qualitative research for the standard context of systematic reviews.

Question 1: The most important part of a meta-analysis is the decision to use a fixed or random effects analysis. Argue against this statement. Question 2: Imagine you work for the Black Dog...

Answer To: Question 1: The most important part of a meta-analysis is the decision to use a fixed or random...

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