Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses of Psychological Interventions

Course

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/P_MSYSREV

Course Objective

In this course, the students learn how to conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled studies in psychological and educational sciences. We focus especially on systematic reviews of psychological interventions for mental health problems. However, we also teach students how to conduct meta-analyses of observational and diagnostic studies.

Course Content

First, students will learn how to formulate an adequate research question for a meta-analysis. Then, we will teach them how to conduct literature searches in major bibliographical databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane database), the process of selecting studies, and data extraction. The different methods of calculating effect sizes will be explained, as well as random and fixed effects models in pooling available effect sizes. We will also explain how to conduct subgroup analyses, univariate and multivariate meta-regression analyses, and tests for publication bias. The different software packages will be illustrated. Each student will conduct a (small) meta-analysis as part of this course.

Teaching Methods

Lectures as well as seminars.

Method of Assessment

Paper assignment

Literature

Cuijpers P (2016). Meta-analyses in mental health research; A practical guide. Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit. Available free online at: http://bit.do/meta-analysis.

Target Audience

The course is meant for research master students CDP but PhD students and early career researchers can also participate if they want to learn how to do meta-analyses
Academic year1/09/2431/08/25
Course level6.00 EC

Language of Tuition

  • English

Study type

  • Master