Mid-South Educational Research Association: Adopting a Meta-Generative Way of Thinking in the Field of Education via the Use of Bayesian Methods

• In Event: The Consortium of State and Regional Educational Research Associations: Distinguished Paper Session 4

Abstract

In this article, we introduce the concept of thinking meta-generatively, which we define as the direct integration of findings from the extant literature during the data collection, analysis, and interpretation phases of primary studies. We demonstrate that meta-generative thinking goes further than other research synthesis techniques (e.g., meta-analysis) because it involves meta-synthesis not only across studies but also within studies. We describe how meta-generative thinking can be both maximized and optimized with respect to quantitative research data/findings via the use of Bayesian methodology that has been shown to be superior to null hypothesis significance testing, which is inherently flawed.

Authors

• Prathiba Natesan, University of North Texas

• Peter Boedeker, Baylor College of Medicine

• Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie, Sam Houston State University