meta-analysis
n. a quantitative technique for synthesizing the results of multiple studies of a phenomenon into a single result by combining the effect size estimates from each study into a single estimate of the combined effect size or into a distribution of effect sizes. For example, a researcher could conduct a meta-analysis of several studies on the association between self-efficacy and achievement, integrating the findings into an overall correlation. Although meta-analysis is ideally suited for summarizing a body of literature in terms of its impact, limitations, and implications, there are conditions that limit its applicability. For example, there is no minimum number of studies nor participants required, and information of potential interest may be missing from the original research reports upon which the procedure must rely.