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The Utility of Cumulative Meta-Analysis: Application to Programs for Reducing Sexual Violence

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Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment

Abstract

Recent advances in meta-analytic techniques provide a useful framework for interpreting the findings of individual studies. Simple formula are presented for determining whether the results of a single study are statistically different from the cumulative average of previous studies, and for calculating the new cumulative average. When applied to two controversial social policies (treatment of sexual offenders; rape prevention programs for college women), cumulative meta-analyses suggested patterns that were not identified by the authors of the individual studies nor by narrative reviews of these content areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

    R. Karl Hanson

  2. Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario

    Ian Broom

  3. Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, 340 Laurier Avenue, West, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0P8, Canada

    R. Karl Hanson

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  1. R. Karl Hanson
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  2. Ian Broom
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Correspondence to R. Karl Hanson.

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Hanson, R.K., Broom, I. The Utility of Cumulative Meta-Analysis: Application to Programs for Reducing Sexual Violence. Sex Abuse 17, 357–373 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11194-005-8049-1

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