A Bayesian aggregate meta-analytic evaluation approach

The Bayesian inferential process is modified to be used as an approach to an aggregate meta-analytic evaluation. Comparisons of the Bayesian approach with the traditional average effect size meta-analytic approach indicated that the Bayesian approach was more sensitive to differences between studies. The approaches to derive descriptive and inferential statistics were more consistent in the Bayesian approach. Because of its ability to account for all available information, the Bayesian approach was statistically more powerful. It is recommended that this approach be used for combining evaluation results when primary data are not available and when all evaluations involve comparisons of two independent samples.