The Essential Guide to Effect Sizes: Statistical Power, Meta-Analysis, and the Interpretation of Research Results

This succinct and jargon-free introduction to effect sizes gives students and researchers the tools they need to interpret the practical significance of their results. Using a class-tested approach that includes numerous examples and step-by-step exercises, it introduces and explains three of the most important issues relating to the practical significance of research results: the reporting and interpretation of effect sizes (Part I), the analysis of statistical power (Part II), and the meta-analytic pooling of effect size estimates drawn from different studies (Part III). The book concludes with a handy list of recommendations for those actively engaged in or currently preparing research projects.

Table of Contents:
List of figures; List of tables; List of boxes; Introduction; Part I. Effect Sizes and the Interpretation of Results: 1. Introduction to effect sizes; 2. Interpreting effects; Part II. The Analysis of Statistical Power: 3. Power analysis and the detection of effects; 4. The painful lessons of power research; Part III. Meta-Analysis: 5. Drawing conclusions using meta-analysis; 6. Minimizing bias in meta-analysis; Last word: thirty recommendations for researchers; Appendices: 1. Minimum sample sizes; 2. Alternative methods for meta-analysis; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
Paul D. Ellis is Professor in the Department of Management and Marketing at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he has taught research methods for nearly fifteen years. His research interests include trade and investment issues, marketing and economic development, international entrepreneurship, and economic geography. Professor Ellis has been ranked as one of the world's most prolific scholars in the field of international business.

Review :
'Paul Ellis writes with a light touch, explains well, and uses numerous practical examples. He focuses on four of the issues that are central to the statistical changes now sweeping many disciplines - effect sizes, confidence intervals, power, and meta-analysis. This is a highly readable, highly practical book. It will be invaluable to anyone who wishes to contribute to - or even just understand - the research of the future.' Geoff Cumming, La Trobe University, Australia 'Assessing the substantive significance of research is essential for both scientific progress and practical implications. This authoritative and well-written book gives relevant examples of key issues and offers practical guidelines for assessing the importance of research findings. The book concludes with clear recommendations for designing and carrying out good research and for assessing and reporting research findings.' William H. Starbuck, University of Oregon and Professor Emeritus, New York University