The Efficacy of Psychological, Educational, and Behavioral Treatment: Confirmation from Meta-Analysis
Title
The Efficacy of Psychological, Educational, and Behavioral Treatment: Confirmation from Meta-Analysis
Author
Lipsey, M. E., & Wilson, D.B.
Source
American Psychologist, 48(12), 1181-1209.
Year Published
1993
Background
In 1976, a new kind of research synthesis was developed called meta-analysis. Meta-analysis integrates and interprets studies on the effectiveness of various treatments. Using meta-analysis, researchers can determine whether certain interventions generally produce greater benefits than others.
This meta-analysis does not simply examine the effectiveness of a single intervention or treatment as many meta-analyses do but, instead, examines the effectiveness of psychological, educational, and behavioral treatments in general by analyzing over 300 meta-analyses conducted in these areas over the first decade and a half after the meta-analysis procedure was developed.
Research Questions
This article examines the large body of meta-analyses of psychological, educational, and behavioral treatment research that occurred between 1977 and 1991.
Findings
Lipsey and Wilson found that well-developed psychological, educational, and behavioral treatments generally have meaningful positive effects.
Conclusion/Recommendations
In their broad review of meta-analytic evidence, Lipsey and Wilson found that well-developed psychological, educational and behavioral treatments generally have meaningful positive effects. The authors conclude that the first 15 years in which the meta-analysis techniques were used yielded not only dozens of well-executed, systematic meta-analytic reviews demonstrating the usefulness of this technique, but also evidence of the effectiveness of a wide variety of psychological, educational, and behavioral treatments.