
Conversely, scanning a large amount of studies that could be potentially relevant for the meta-analysis results in a perhaps unmanageable workload. On the one hand, a larger number of studies increases the potentially relevant literature basis and enables researchers to conduct meta-analyses. First, when defining an adequate study scope, researchers must consider that the number of publications has grown exponentially in many fields of research in recent decades (Fortunato et al. When defining the research question, two hurdles might develop.

Most importantly, the research question determines the realm of constructs to be considered or the type of interventions whose effects shall be analyzed. The first step in conducting a meta-analysis, as with any other empirical study, is the definition of the research question. Thus, this article has two goals: (1) based on the findings of previous editorials and methodological articles, it defines methodological recommendations for meta-analyses submitted to Management Review Quarterly (MRQ) and (2) it serves as a practical guide for researchers who have little experience with meta-analysis as a method but plan to conduct one in the future.Ģ.1 Step 1: defining the research question This editorial briefly summarizes the insights of these papers provides a workflow of the essential steps in conducting a meta-analysis suggests state-of-the art methodological procedures and points to other articles for in-depth investigation. These articles discuss existing and trending methods and propose solutions for often experienced problems. 2018), and organizational studies (DeSimone et al. 2020), marketing (Eisend 2017 Grewal et al. 2021), economics and finance (Geyer-Klingeberg et al. 2019 Gonzalez-Mulé and Aguinis 2018), international business (Steel et al. The increasing importance of meta-analysis in management research has resulted in the publication of guidelines in recent years that discuss the merits and best practices in various fields, such as general management (Bergh et al. 2018), meta-analysis is nowadays also an established method in management research and related fields. Rooted in the synthesis of the effectiveness of medical and psychological interventions in the 1970s (Glass 2015 Gurevitch et al.

Also, it can be used to test competing theoretical assumptions against each other or to identify important moderators where the results of different primary studies differ from each other (Aguinis et al. However, going beyond a narrative summary of key findings, a meta-analysis adds value in providing a quantitative assessment of the relationship between two target variables or the effectiveness of an intervention (Gurevitch et al. Similar to a narrative review, it serves as a synopsis of a research question or field. Meta-analysis is a central method for knowledge accumulation in many scientific fields (Aguinis et al. Thus, the foundation of science is the cumulation of knowledge from the results of many studies.” (Hunter et al. Indeed, a small sample study will not even resolve a minor issue. “Scientists have known for centuries that a single study will not resolve a major issue.
