Final answer:
Meta-analysis is the method by which the findings of various quantitative studies are statistically analyzed to yield a summary statistic, aiming to compile and make sense of the overall data from numerous studies on a particular topic.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the findings of multiple quantitative studies on a single topic are statistically analyzed to produce a summary statistic, this process is known as meta-analysis. A meta-analysis is a technique in which the results of virtually all previous studies on a specific subject are evaluated together. This method allows researchers to combine the results from multiple studies to draw overall conclusions about the subject of interest. It is particularly useful when studies have small sample sizes or when results across studies are varied or conflicting. By combining data in this way, meta-analyses provide a powerful tool for summarizing research findings and can help establish patterns that individual studies might not be able to detect on their own. Other research methods such as experimental research, cross-sectional studies, and longitudinal studies also rely on quantitative research and gather data in numerical form to address different types of research questions. Longitudinal research tracks the same individuals over time to understand changes, while cross-sectional studies compare multiple segments of a population at a single point in time. Experimental research involves the manipulation of variables in a controlled environment to examine causality. Surveys, case studies, and archival research are among the many research methods used to gather data, each with their own strengths and weaknesses depending on the research objectives.