In this Book

Princeton University Press
  • Handbook of Meta-analysis in Ecology and Evolution
  • Book
  • Edited by Julia Koricheva, Jessica Gurevitch & Kerrie Mengersen
  • 2013
  • Published by: Princeton University Press
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summary

Meta-analysis is a powerful statistical methodology for synthesizing research evidence across independent studies. This is the first comprehensive handbook of meta-analysis written specifically for ecologists and evolutionary biologists, and it provides an invaluable introduction for beginners as well as an up-to-date guide for experienced meta-analysts.


The chapters, written by renowned experts, walk readers through every step of meta-analysis, from problem formulation to the presentation of the results. The handbook identifies both the advantages of using meta-analysis for research synthesis and the potential pitfalls and limitations of meta-analysis (including when it should not be used). Different approaches to carrying out a meta-analysis are described, and include moment and least-square, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian approaches, all illustrated using worked examples based on real biological datasets. This one-of-a-kind resource is uniquely tailored to the biological sciences, and will provide an invaluable text for practitioners from graduate students and senior scientists to policymakers in conservation and environmental management.


  • Walks you through every step of carrying out a meta-analysis in ecology and evolutionary biology, from problem formulation to result presentation

  • Brings together experts from a broad range of fields

  • Shows how to avoid, minimize, or resolve pitfalls such as missing data, publication bias, varying data quality, nonindependence of observations, and phylogenetic dependencies among species

  • Helps you choose the right software

  • Draws on numerous examples based on real biological datasets

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
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  1. Title Page, Copyright, Dedication
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  1. Contents
  2. pp. vii-x
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  1. Preface
  2. pp. xi-xvi
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  1. Section I: Introduction and Planning
  1. 1. Place of Meta-analysis among Other Methods of Research Synthesis
  2. Julia Koricheva, Jessica Gurevitch
  3. pp. 3-13
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  1. 2. The Procedure of Meta-analysis in a Nutshell
  2. Isabelle M. Côté, Michael D. Jennions
  3. pp. 14-24
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  1. Section II: Initiating a Meta-analysis
  1. 3. First Steps in Beginning a Meta-analysis
  2. Gavin B. Stewart, Isabelle M. Côté, Hannah R. Rothstein, Peter S. Curtis
  3. pp. 27-36
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  1. 4. Gathering Data: Searching Literature and Selection Criteria
  2. Isabelle M. Côté, Peter S. Curtis, Hannah R. Rothstein, Gavin B. Stewart
  3. pp. 37-51
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  1. 5. Extraction and Critical Appraisal of Data
  2. Peter S. Curtis, Kerrie Mengersen, Marc J. Lajeunesse, Hannah R. Rothstein, Gavin B. Stewart
  3. pp. 52-60
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  1. 6. Effect Sizes: Conventional Choices and Calculations
  2. Michael S. Rosenberg, Hannah R. Rothstein, Jessica Gurevitch
  3. pp. 61-71
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  1. 7. Using Other Metrics of Effect Size in Meta-analysis
  2. Kerrie Mengersen, Jessica Gurevitch
  3. pp. 72-86
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  1. Section III: Essential Analytic Models and Methods
  1. 8. Statistical Models and Approaches to Inference
  2. Kerrie Mengersen, Christopher H. Schmid, Michael D. Jennions, Jessica Gurevitch
  3. pp. 89-107
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  1. 9. Moment and Least-Squares Based Approaches to Meta-analytic Inference
  2. Michael S. Rosenberg
  3. pp. 108-124
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  1. 10. Maximum Likelihood Approaches to Meta-analysis
  2. Kerrie Mengersen, Christopher H. Schmid
  3. pp. 125-144
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  1. 11. Bayesian Meta-analysis
  2. Christopher H. Schmid, Kerrie Mengersen
  3. pp. 145-173
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  1. 12. Software for Statistical Meta-analysis
  2. Christopher H. Schmid, Gavin B. Stewart, Hannah R. Rothstein, Marc J. Lajeunesse, Jessica Gurevitch
  3. pp. 174-192
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  1. Section IV: Statistical Issues and Problems
  1. 13. Recovering Missing or Partial Data from Studies: A Survey of Conversions and Imputations for Meta-analysis
  2. Marc J. Lajeunesse
  3. pp. 195-206
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  1. 14. Publication and Related Biases
  2. Michael D. Jennions, Christopher J. Lortie, Michael S. Rosenberg, Hannah R. Rothstein
  3. pp. 207-236
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  1. 15. Temporal Trends in Effect Sizes: Causes, Detection, and Implications
  2. Julia Koricheva, Michael D. Jennions, Joseph Lau
  3. pp. 237-254
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  1. 16. Statistical Models for the Meta-analysis of Nonindependent Data
  2. Kerrie Mengersen, Michael D. Jennions, Christopher H. Schmid
  3. pp. 255-283
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  1. 17. Phylogenetic Nonindependence and Meta-analysis
  2. Marc J. Lajeunesse, Michael S. Rosenberg, Michael D. Jennions
  3. pp. 284-299
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  1. 18. Meta-analysis of Primary Data
  2. Kerrie Mengersen, Jessica Gurevitch, Christopher H. Schmid
  3. pp. 300-312
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  1. 19. Meta-analysis of Results from Multisite Studies
  2. Jessica Gurevitch
  3. pp. 313-320
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  1. Section V: Presentation and Interpretation of Results
  1. 20. Quality Standards for Research Syntheses
  2. Hannah R. Rothstein, Christopher J. Lortie, Gavin B. Stewart, Julia Koricheva, Jessica Gurevitch
  3. pp. 323-338
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  1. 21. Graphical Presentation of Results
  2. Christopher J. Lortie, Joseph Lau, Marc J. Lajeunesse
  3. pp. 339-347
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  1. 22. Power Statistics for Meta-analysis: Tests for Mean Effects and Homogeneity
  2. Marc J. Lajeunesse
  3. pp. 348-363
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  1. 23. Role of Meta-analysis in Interpreting the Scientific Literature
  2. Michael D. Jennions, Christopher J. Lortie, Julia Koricheva
  3. pp. 364-380
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  1. 24. Using Meta-analysis to Test Ecological and Evolutionary Theory
  2. Michael D. Jennions, Christopher J. Lortie, Julia Koricheva
  3. pp. 381-404
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  1. Section VI: Contributions of Meta-analysis in Ecology and Evolution
  1. 25. History and Progress of Meta-analysis
  2. Joseph Lau, Hannah R. Rothstein, Gavin B. Stewart
  3. pp. 407-419
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  1. 26. Contributions of Meta-analysis to Conservation and Management
  2. Isabelle M. Côté, Gavin B. Stewart
  3. pp. 420-425
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  1. 27. Conclusions: Past, Present, and Future of Meta-analysis in Ecology and Evolution
  2. Jessica Gurevitch, Julia Koricheva
  3. pp. 426-432
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  1. Glossary
  2. pp. 433-440
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  1. Frequently Asked Questions
  2. pp. 441-446
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  1. References
  2. pp. 447-486
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  1. List of Contributors
  2. pp. 487-488
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  1. Subject Index
  2. pp. 489-498
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