Meta-Analysis in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Challenging the Paradigm and Charting a New Path Forward

Meta-analyses are appearing more frequently in the criminological literature. Yet the methods typically used are guided by a methodological paradigm that risks producing meta-analyses of limited value. Here we outline three key methodological issues that meta-analysts face and we present a methodological challenge to the dominant meta-analysis paradigm. We focus specifically on: (1) inclusion criteria, (2) analysis of bivariate versus multivariate effect sizes, and (3) methods for handling statistical dependence. Issues of reproducibility and recommendations for moving forward are discussed.