En el artículo Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement (2009), un metaanálisis se define como:
Meta-analysis refers to the use of statistical techniques in a systematic review to integrate the results of included studies.
En Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: When One Study Is Just not Enough (2008) se define metaanálisis como:
Depending on the nature of the data, the results of a systematic review can be summarized in text or graphic form. In graphic form, it is common for different trials to be depicted in a plot where the point estimate and 95% confidence interval for each study are presented on an individual line (11). When results are mathematically combined (a process sometimes referred to as pooling), this is referred to as meta-analysis. Graphically, the pooled result is often presented as a diamond at the bottom of the plot.
When performing a meta-analysis, a review team usually combines aggregate-level data reported in each primary study (point and variance estimate of the summary measure).
Una revisión sistemática y un metaanálisis se pueden combinar en un mismo estudio, por ejemplo Web-Based Digital Health Interventions for Weight Loss and Lifestyle Habit Changes in Overweight and Obese Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, cuyo método fue:
We searched PubMed or Medline, SciELO, Lilacs, PsychNet, and Web of Science up to July 2018, as well as references of previous reviews for randomized trials that compared Web-based digital health interventions to offline interventions. Anthropometric changes such as weight, body mass index (BMI), waist, and body fat and lifestyle habit changes in adults with overweight and obesity were the outcomes of interest. Random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed for mean differences (MDs) in weight. We rated the risk of bias for each study and the quality of evidence across studies using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.
Ejemplos de metaanálisis (en inglés)
Estos artículos son una revisión sistemática de revisiones sistemáticas. Se podría decir que son una "metarevisión sistemática". También se puede decir que son "tertiary research", frente a primary research y secondary research.
Systematic literature reviews in software engineering - A systematic literature review
Cita: Barbara Kitchenham, O. Pearl Brereton, David Budgen, Mark Turner, John Bailey, Stephen Linkman. Information and Software Technology. Volume 51, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 7-15. DOI: 10.1016/j.infsof.2008.09.009
Systematic literature reviews in global software development: A tertiary study
Cita: J. M. Verner, O. P. Brereton, B. A. Kitchenham, M. Turner, M. Niazi. 16th International Conference on Evaluation & Assessment in Software Engineering (EASE 2012), Ciudad Real, 2012, Pages 2-11. DOI: 10.1049/ic.2012.0001
Relation between Alice software and programming learning: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis
Cita: Joana M. Costa, Guilhermina L. Miranda. (2017). British Journal of Educational Technology, 48(6), 1464-1474. DOI: 10.1111/bjet.12496
Does the medical literature remain inadequately described despite having reporting guidelines for 21 years? – A systematic review of reviews: an update
Cita: Jin, Y., Sanger, N., Shams, I., Luo, C., Shahid, H., Li, G., Bhatt, M., Zielinski, L., Bantoto, B., Wang, M., Abbade, L. P., Nwosu, I., Leenus, A., Mbuagbaw, L., Maaz, M., Chang, Y., Sun, G., Levine, M. A., Adachi, J. D., Thabane, L., … Samaan, Z. (2018). Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare, 11, 495-510. DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S155103
Landscaping systematic mapping studies in software engineering: A tertiary study
Cita: Muhammad Uzair Khan, Salman Sherin, Muhammad Zohaib Iqbal, Rubab Zahid. (2019). Journal of Systems and Software, Volume 149, March 2019, Pages 396-436. DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2018.12.018