A Researcher Locates 12 Research Studies That All Examine the Effect

question 2

Multiple Choice

A researcher locates 12 research studies that all examine the effect of a different cognitive-behavioral strategy for decreasing pain-hypnosis, distraction, focusing, music therapy, and so forth. Why would these 12 studies make a poor meta-analysis?

• A)Cognitive-behavioral interventions are not a suitable focus for all patients and, consequently, should not be studied.
• B)Twelve studies would be too many for synthesis of any kind.
• C)Secondary analyses of pooled data are not used for meta-analysis on pain, because of interindividual differences in perception.
• D)The result, if statistically significant, will produce a general recommendation, "If in pain, do something cognitive-behavioral," which is meaningless.