Introductory Guide to Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis

This paper is an introductory guide to systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Meta-analysis is defined, and important textbooks are introduced. The types of research problems that lend themselves to meta-analysis, how to prepare for a meta-analysis, the main stages of the analysis itself, and how to present a meta-analysis are all discussed. Some brief examples of meta-analysis in transport research are given.

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