Publications [#251560] of Harris M. Cooper

Peer-reviewed journal articles published

1. Cooper, HM; Lemke, KM (1991). On the Role of Meta-Analysis in Personality and Social Psychology. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 17(3), 245-251. [doi]
   (last updated on 2024/01/01)

   Abstract:
   An examination of the frequency with which meta-analyses appear in the sub disciplines of psychology reveals that educational psychology and psychotherapy have produced the most meta-analyses, with social psychology not far behind. Several concerns that theoretical psychologists might have about applying meta-analysis to their research domain are reviewed. These include the notions that (a) meta-analysis is good for the study of methodological artifacts, not substantive theories, and (b) meta-analysis focuses on main effects whereas theory testing focuses on interactions. Both concerns are shown to be unwarranted. Examples of the use of meta-analysis to advance social psychological theory are presented, along with a discussion of the benefits to social psychology that might accrue if meta-analysis were widely adopted.