{"id":427,"date":"2023-03-17T09:10:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T03:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/?p=427"},"modified":"2026-09-12T21:55:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T16:25:03","slug":"differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Difference Between a Systematic Review vs Meta-Analysis?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>A systematic review finds, appraises, and synthesizes all evidence on a question, using a pre-specified, reproducible method. A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that pools numerical results into one effect estimate. It usually done inside a systematic review.<\/p>\r\n<p>This article explains the differences between the two in detail, and when to choose to do a meta-analysis if you&#8217;re conducting a systematic review.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#What_Is_a_Systematic_Review\" >What Is a Systematic Review?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Key_Characteristics_of_a_Systematic_Review\" >Key Characteristics of a Systematic Review<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#What_Is_a_Meta-Analysis\" >What Is a Meta-Analysis?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Why_perform_a_meta-analysis\" >Why perform a meta-analysis?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Key_Characteristics_of_a_Meta-Analysis\" >Key Characteristics of a Meta-Analysis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Systematic_Review_vs_Meta-Analysis_The_Core_Differences\" >Systematic Review vs Meta-Analysis: The Core Differences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#The_Relationship_Between_the_Two_How_They_Work_Together\" >The Relationship Between the Two: How They Work Together<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Why_Dont_All_Systematic_Reviews_Include_a_Meta-Analysis\" >Why Don&#8217;t All Systematic Reviews Include a Meta-Analysis?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Reasons_a_Systematic_Review_May_Not_Use_Meta-Analysis\" >Reasons a Systematic Review May Not Use Meta-Analysis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#When_Should_You_Use_a_Systematic_Review_vs_Meta-Analysis\" >When Should You Use a Systematic Review vs Meta-Analysis?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Opt_for_a_systematic_review_when_you_want_to\" >Opt for a systematic review when you want to:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Add_a_meta-analysis_when\" >Add a meta-analysis when:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Avoid_meta-analysis_when\" >Avoid meta-analysis when:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Systematic_Review_vs_Meta-Analysis_A_Quick-Reference_Summary\" >Systematic Review vs Meta-Analysis: A Quick-Reference Summary<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Is_a_meta-analysis_a_type_of_systematic_review\" >Is a meta-analysis a type of systematic review?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Which_is_stronger_a_systematic_review_or_a_meta-analysis\" >Which is stronger: a systematic review or a meta-analysis?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#Can_I_do_a_meta-analysis_without_a_systematic_review\" >Can I do a meta-analysis without a systematic review?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses\/#How_do_I_know_if_meta-analysis_is_appropriate_for_my_systematic_review\" >How do I know if meta-analysis is appropriate for my systematic review?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Systematic_Review\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc231674941\"><\/a>What Is a Systematic Review?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/a-young-researchers-guide-to-a-systematic-review\">systematic review<\/a> is a form of secondary research that identifies, evaluates, and synthesizes all available evidence relevant to a specific, pre-defined research question. Unlike a traditional or narrative literature review, which may reflect the author&#8217;s familiarity with a subset of the literature, a systematic review follows a rigorous, transparent, and reproducible methodology that is defined before the search begins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Characteristics_of_a_Systematic_Review\"><\/span>Key Characteristics of a Systematic Review<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>A clearly stated, focused research question<\/li>\r\n<li>Pre-specified eligibility criteria (inclusion and exclusion criteria)<\/li>\r\n<li>A comprehensive, reproducible search strategy covering multiple databases<\/li>\r\n<li>Independent screening and selection of studies by at least two reviewers<\/li>\r\n<li>Critical appraisal of study quality and risk of bias<\/li>\r\n<li>Systematic data extraction<\/li>\r\n<li>Synthesis of findings (qualitative, quantitative, or both)<\/li>\r\n<li>Transparent reporting, typically following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Meta-Analysis\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc231674942\"><\/a>What Is a Meta-Analysis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that pools the quantitative results from two or more independent studies to generate a single, combined estimate of effect. It is not a standalone study design in the way a systematic review is. Rather, it is a statistical method that is frequently performed <em>within<\/em> the framework of a systematic review.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_perform_a_meta-analysis\"><\/span>Why perform a meta-analysis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The core purpose of a meta-analysis is to produce a more precise estimate of a treatment effect, risk factor, or association than any individual study could provide on its own. Many primary studies are too small to detect a true effect with confidence. By mathematically combining their data, a meta-analysis increases statistical power and reduces uncertainty around the estimate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Results from a meta-analysis are typically displayed in a <strong>forest plot<\/strong>: a graphical representation showing the effect size from each included study alongside a summary diamond at the bottom representing the pooled estimate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Characteristics_of_a_Meta-Analysis\"><\/span>Key Characteristics of a Meta-Analysis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Requires quantitative (numerical) data from multiple studies<\/li>\r\n<li>Calculates a pooled effect size (e.g., odds ratio, risk ratio, weighted mean difference, standardized mean difference)<\/li>\r\n<li>Assesses <strong>heterogeneity<\/strong> (the degree of variation in results across studies) to determine whether pooling is appropriate<\/li>\r\n<li>May use subgroup analysis or meta-regression to explore sources of variation<\/li>\r\n<li>Increases <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/importance-of-statistical-power-in-research-design\">statistical power<\/a> beyond what any single study can achieve<\/li>\r\n<li>Produces a single numerical estimate that can directly inform clinical or policy decisions<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Systematic_Review_vs_Meta-Analysis_The_Core_Differences\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc231674943\"><\/a>Systematic Review vs Meta-Analysis: The Core Differences<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The most important distinction is this: <strong>a systematic review is a type of study; a meta-analysis is a statistical technique.<\/strong> A meta-analysis is often conducted as part of a systematic review, but the two are not the same thing, and neither requires the other.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Systematic Review<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Meta-Analysis<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Type<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Research methodology \/ study design<\/td>\r\n<td>Statistical technique<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Primary purpose<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Comprehensively identify, appraise, and synthesize evidence<\/td>\r\n<td>Quantitatively pool results to estimate overall effect<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Data type<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Qualitative or quantitative (or both)<\/td>\r\n<td>Quantitative only<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Output<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Narrative or statistical synthesis; comprehensive overview<\/td>\r\n<td>Single pooled effect size with confidence intervals<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Requires statistics?<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>No, can use narrative synthesis<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes, inherently statistical<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Can stand alone?<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Rarely, usually embedded in a systematic review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Addresses heterogeneity?<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Descriptively<\/td>\r\n<td>Statistically (e.g., I\u00b2 statistic, Cochran&#8217;s Q)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Reporting guideline<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>PRISMA<\/td>\r\n<td>PRISMA (with meta-analysis extensions)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/dont-know-where-to-start-6-tips-on-identifying-research-gaps\">Identifies evidence gaps<\/a>?<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Indirectly<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Level of evidence<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Highest (top of evidence pyramid)<\/td>\r\n<td>High (when within a systematic review)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Relationship_Between_the_Two_How_They_Work_Together\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc231674944\"><\/a>The Relationship Between the Two: How They Work Together<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The relationship between a systematic review and a meta-analysis is best understood as follows: <strong>all meta-analyses should be conducted within the framework of a systematic review, but not all systematic reviews will include a meta-analysis.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>This means:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>A <strong>systematic review without meta-analysis<\/strong> is entirely valid. It synthesizes evidence through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-synthesize-literature-in-research-literature-synthesis-examples-and-tips\/\">narrative synthesis<\/a>, thematic analysis, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/qualitative-systematic-review-and-meta-synthesis-examples-protocols-tips\/\">qualitative evidence synthesis<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<li>A <strong>meta-analysis without a systematic review<\/strong> is considered methodologically weak, because there is no guarantee that the underlying studies were comprehensively identified or that bias in study selection has been minimized.<\/li>\r\n<li>A <strong>systematic review with meta-analysis<\/strong> represents the most statistically powerful form of secondary evidence synthesis.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Dont_All_Systematic_Reviews_Include_a_Meta-Analysis\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc231674945\"><\/a>Why Don&#8217;t All Systematic Reviews Include a Meta-Analysis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>This is one of the most common questions researchers have, and the answer comes down to the nature of the data. Meta-analysis is only appropriate when the included studies are sufficiently <strong>homogeneous<\/strong>. In other words, they need to be similar enough in terms of population, intervention, comparator, and outcome to make pooling meaningful.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>When studies are too different from one another (i.e., show high <strong>heterogeneity<\/strong>), combining their results statistically can produce a misleading average that does not accurately represent any real-world situation. In such cases, narrative synthesis is more honest and more informative.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reasons_a_Systematic_Review_May_Not_Use_Meta-Analysis\"><\/span>Reasons a Systematic Review May Not Use Meta-Analysis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>High heterogeneity<\/strong>: significant variation in study populations, interventions, or outcomes makes pooling inappropriate<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Too few studies<\/strong>: an insufficient number of comparable studies to produce a meaningful estimate<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Poor methodological quality<\/strong>: low-quality primary studies with high risk of bias would distort the pooled result<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Qualitative data<\/strong>: some systematic reviews address questions best answered with qualitative evidence, for which statistical pooling is not applicable<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_Should_You_Use_a_Systematic_Review_vs_Meta-Analysis\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc231674950\"><\/a>When Should You Use a Systematic Review vs Meta-Analysis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Choosing between a systematic review and a meta-analysis depends on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-research-question-definition-examples-checklist\/\">research question<\/a> and the nature of the available evidence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Opt_for_a_systematic_review_when_you_want_to\"><\/span>Opt for a systematic review when you want to:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Comprehensively map all available evidence on a topic<\/li>\r\n<li>Identify trends or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-find-research-gaps-gap-statement-examples-and-tips\/\">gaps in the literature<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Answer questions that involve qualitative or heterogeneous data<\/li>\r\n<li>Produce a rigorous, reproducible synthesis that informs guidelines or policy<\/li>\r\n<li>Answer questions about effectiveness, diagnosis, prognosis, or experiences<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Add_a_meta-analysis_when\"><\/span>Add a meta-analysis when:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The systematic review has identified multiple studies that are sufficiently similar<\/li>\r\n<li>The outcome data are quantitative and comparable<\/li>\r\n<li>You want to produce a precise numerical estimate of an effect<\/li>\r\n<li>You need to increase statistical power beyond any individual study<\/li>\r\n<li>You want to formally test for and explore sources of heterogeneity<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Avoid_meta-analysis_when\"><\/span>Avoid meta-analysis when:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Studies are clinically or methodologically too different to pool meaningfully<\/li>\r\n<li>There are too few included studies<\/li>\r\n<li>The quality of included studies is too low<\/li>\r\n<li>The data are primarily qualitative in nature<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Systematic_Review_vs_Meta-Analysis_A_Quick-Reference_Summary\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc231674954\"><\/a>Systematic Review vs Meta-Analysis: A Quick-Reference Summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\u00a0<\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Systematic Review<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Meta-Analysis<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Definition<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Comprehensive synthesis of all evidence on a question<\/td>\r\n<td>Statistical pooling of quantitative results across studies<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Nature<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Qualitative and\/or quantitative<\/td>\r\n<td>Quantitative only<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Can include the other?<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Yes, may include a meta-analysis<\/td>\r\n<td>No, relies on a systematic review for study identification<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Primary output<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Narrative or statistical synthesis<\/td>\r\n<td>Pooled effect size with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-confidence-intervals-and-why-is-it-important\/\">confidence interval<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Key tool<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>PRISMA flow diagram, risk of bias assessment<\/td>\r\n<td>Forest plot, funnel plot, I\u00b2 statistic<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Used in<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Medicine, social science, education, policy<\/td>\r\n<td>Medicine, epidemiology, psychology, public health<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Requires statistics?<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Not necessarily<\/td>\r\n<td>Always<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Time to complete<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Months to years<\/td>\r\n<td>Weeks to months (when data are ready)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Best for<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Mapping the evidence landscape<\/td>\r\n<td>Quantifying the magnitude of an effect<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc231674955\"><\/a>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_a_meta-analysis_a_type_of_systematic_review\"><\/span>Is a meta-analysis a type of systematic review?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Not exactly. A meta-analysis is a statistical method that is frequently used as part of a systematic review, but it is not itself a study design. A systematic review can exist without a meta-analysis, but a meta-analysis ideally should be embedded within a systematic review.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_is_stronger_a_systematic_review_or_a_meta-analysis\"><\/span>Which is stronger: a systematic review or a meta-analysis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Both sit at the top of the evidence hierarchy. A well-conducted systematic review with meta-analysis is generally considered the highest level of evidence, but a rigorous systematic review without meta-analysis still provides more reliable evidence than individual studies or narrative reviews.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_do_a_meta-analysis_without_a_systematic_review\"><\/span>Can I do a meta-analysis without a systematic review?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Technically yes, but it is methodologically discouraged. Without a systematic, unbiased search, there is no guarantee that the studies included in the meta-analysis represent the full picture. Such analyses risk <a href=\"https:\/\/researcher.life\/blog\/article\/what-is-selection-bias-definition-types-and-examples\/\">selection bias<\/a> and are generally considered suboptimal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_know_if_meta-analysis_is_appropriate_for_my_systematic_review\"><\/span>How do I know if meta-analysis is appropriate for my systematic review?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The key question is whether your included studies are sufficiently similar in terms of population, intervention, comparator, and outcome. If they are, and if the data are quantitative and comparable, meta-analysis is likely appropriate. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/services\/publishing-services-packs\/statistical-analysis\">Consulting a statistician<\/a> is strongly recommended before proceeding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A systematic review finds, appraises, and synthesizes all evidence on a question, using a pre-specified, reproducible method. A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that pools numerical results into one effect estimate. It usually done inside a systematic review. This article explains the differences between the two in detail, and when to choose to do a [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_summary":"The relationship between a systematic review and a meta-analysis is best understood as follows: all meta-analyses should be conducted within the framework of a systematic review, but not all systematic reviews will include a meta-analysis. A systematic review can exist without a meta-analysis, but a meta-analysis ideally should be embedded within a systematic review. A well-conducted systematic review with meta-analysis is generally considered the highest level of evidence, but a rigorous systematic review without meta-analysis still provides more reliable evidence than individual studies or narrative reviews.","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_provider":"manual","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_hash":"277745a0d4b0a3b605b3cec0c841d0a7ddefd1ca"},"categories":[14],"tags":[23,24],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is the difference between a systematic review vs meta-analysis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what is a systematic review, what is a meta-analysis, key differences between them, when to choose a systematic review vs meta-analysis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses-in-biomedical-research\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is the difference between a systematic review vs meta-analysis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn what is a systematic review, what is a meta-analysis, key differences between them, when to choose a systematic review vs meta-analysis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/differences-between-systematic-reviews-and-meta-analyses-in-biomedical-research\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - 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