Guidance for Increasing Primary Study Inclusion and the Usability of Data in Meta-Analysis: A Reporting Tutorial

Area of Science:

• Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
• Research Synthesis Methodologies

Background:

• Meta-analyses are crucial for summarizing literature, understanding construct development, and synthesizing intervention effects.
• Primary study data reporting directly influences meta-analysis outcomes and their subsequent application in research, practice, and policy.
• Existing reporting guidelines for meta-analyses are robust, but primary study reporting essentials for inclusion in syntheses are underdeveloped.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide guidance for primary study authors on essential reporting practices for meta-analysis inclusion.
• To highlight the impact of data reporting and transparency in primary studies on the validity of meta-analyses.
• To advocate for improved reporting standards in primary research within speech, language, and hearing sciences.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of current and ongoing issues in primary study data reporting.
• Presentation of data-based examples illustrating how lack of reporting impacts meta-analysis eligibility.
• Recommendations for editorial teams, peer reviewers, and authors regarding supplemental data reporting.

Main Results:

• Lack of reporting or transparency in primary studies frequently renders them ineligible for meta-analysis inclusion.
• Improved primary study reporting can significantly enhance the quality and scope of meta-analyses.
• Explicitly stating the importance of reporting enhances contributions to research syntheses.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced primary study reporting is essential for robust meta-analyses in speech, language, and hearing sciences.
• Authors, editors, and reviewers must prioritize data transparency to maximize research synthesis contributions.
• Adopting these reporting practices will advance the field by ensuring more comprehensive and reliable evidence synthesis.