Developing, Testing, or Extending Theory with Meta-analyses

Abstract

In recent decades, meta-analyses have become an increasingly popular method to summarize empirical evidence. In this editorial, we outline what we expect from meta-analyses and which meta-analyses are (not) likely to published in Organizational Psychology Review. Most importantly, we describe how meta-analyses can be used to develop, test, or extend theories, which is crucial given the centrality of theories to move the entire field forward. In addition, meta-analyses provide a unique opportunity to develop a detailed agenda for future research by pinpointing gaps in or additions to theory, and by identifying methodological deficiencies that prevent the development, testing, or extension of theories. At last, we provide suggestions for appropriate meta-analytic methods that can help to make a substantial theoretical contribution and briefly outline methodological expectations for meta-analyses submitted to Organizational Psychology Review.