The Handbook of Research Synthesis: Second Edition

In 1994, the Foundation published The Handbook of Research Synthesis, edited by Harris Cooper and Larry Hedges. The book became the most cited reference in the field of research synthesis (or meta-analysis), which allowed social scientists to combine data from many small studies to get a more accurate understanding of the impact of a particular factor on a given outcome than could any of the individual studies taken alone. Since then, there have been many new developments in both the theory and practice of research synthesis. With support from the Foundation, Cooper will author a new edition of the book, incorporating those new developments in the field and adding several new topics missing from the first edition. The new edition will include entirely new chapters on estimations from studies involving the randomized trials of groups or clusters (such as classrooms in schools), the growing efforts to use research synthesis in policy analysis, and software packages for meta-analysis.