What should I keep in mind when interpreting meta-analyses?

Meta-analyses are an extremely valuable research method for identifying what has an impact on student achievement but, like all research methods, they have limitations which people should be mindful of as they interpret the research finding:

• The interpretations arising from a meta-analysis can only be as reliable and valid as the individual studies included in the meta-analysis
• They can be a “blunt” instrument because the nuances in individual studies can be lost
• You need to consider how the studies included in a meta-analysis relate to your own context to judge the transferability of the findings
• Meta-analyses examine what “has been found” in research up to now—not what new research will show
• They are the starting point for questions and further thought rather than an answer or a solution