CRS Literature Review & Synthesis 3

Question 1

What does the 'I²' statistic measure in a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

The proportion of total variation in effect sizes due to heterogeneity

Answer

I² quantifies the percentage of variance in effect sizes attributable to between-study heterogeneity rather than sampling error.

Question 2

A researcher uses a 'funnel plot' during literature synthesis. What is its primary purpose?

Accepted Answer

To visually assess potential publication bias

Answer

Funnel plots display effect size against standard error; asymmetry suggests publication bias where small negative studies may be missing.

Question 3

Which inclusion criterion would be most appropriate for a CRS literature review focused on U.S. workplace training programs?

Accepted Answer

Peer-reviewed studies of adult learners in U.S. organizational settings

Answer

Defining criteria by peer-review status, population (adult learners), and setting (U.S. organizations) ensures relevance and quality for the specific research question.

Question 4

In narrative synthesis, 'tabulation' is used to:

Accepted Answer

Organize study characteristics and findings in a structured table for comparison

Answer

Tabulation presents key attributes and findings across studies in a systematic table, making it easier to compare and identify patterns without statistical pooling.

Question 5

Which database is most specialized for locating grey literature and unpublished research reports?

Accepted Answer

OpenGrey

Answer

OpenGrey (formerly OpenSIGLE) is a European repository specifically designed to provide access to grey literature including technical reports and theses.

(CRS) Certified Research Specialist Practice Test

(CRS) Certified Research Specialist Practice Test

CRS Literature Review & Synthesis 3