Meta‐analysis and traditional systematic literature reviews—What, why, when, where, and how?

Abstract Meta‐analysis is a research method for systematically combining and synthesizing findings from multiple quantitative studies in a research domain. Despite its importance, most literature evaluating meta‐analyses are based on data analysis and statistical discussions. This paper takes a holistic view, comparing meta‐analyses to traditional systematic literature reviews. We described steps of the meta‐analytic process including question definition, data collection, data analysis, and reporting results. For each step, we explain the primary purpose, the tasks required of the meta‐analyst, and recommendations for best practice. Finally, we discuss recent developments in meta‐analytic techniques, which increase its effectiveness in business research.