What is a statistical analysis of a group of studies to assess the overall weight of the evidence called?

The term that describes a statistical analysis of a group of studies to assess the overall weight of the evidence is known as a meta-analysis. This process involves combining and analyzing data from multiple studies on the same topic to derive more robust conclusions than those that might be obtained from individual studies alone. By aggregating results, a meta-analysis can help identify trends, assess the strength of interventions, and highlight areas of consensus within the literature. This approach is particularly valuable in fields such as medicine and nutrition, where it can provide a clearer picture of the effectiveness of various interventions.

The other terms, while related, do not specifically refer to the statistical aggregation of study results. A systematic review involves a comprehensive overview of all relevant studies on a specific question, assessing their quality and findings, but does not necessarily involve statistical analysis. A quantitative review may imply an examination that includes numerical data, but it is not a standardized term for a specific statistical process. Primary analysis refers to the initial investigation of a single study's data, not an aggregation of multiple studies.