What aspect of research does a meta-analysis primarily focus on?

A meta-analysis primarily focuses on combining results from several studies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a specific research question. By aggregating data from multiple independent studies, a meta-analysis increases the statistical power and allows for more reliable conclusions about the effect or relationship being investigated. This process helps to identify patterns, consistency, and variability across studies, which can contribute to a more robust evidence base in a particular field.

In contrast, individual case studies would only examine single instances rather than drawing conclusions from a larger body of evidence. Gathering only qualitative data limits the scope of analysis since meta-analyses often include quantitative data to perform statistical assessments. Similarly, reviewing single-source studies focuses on looking at one particular research project or publication rather than synthesizing results across multiple studies, which is essential to the concept of meta-analysis.