Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen,

anbei finden Sie unseren CfP zur RC33 Session

"Methodological Challenges of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in the Non-Experimental Social Sciences"

im Rahmen der 9th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, 11-16 September 2016, an der University of Leicester.

Beste Grüße,

Bernd Weiß Ariel M. Aloe Stephan Bruns

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Call for Papers

9th RC33 International Conference on Social Science Methodology, University of Leicester, September 11-16, 2016

http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/sociology/research/rc33-conference

Session: "Methodological Challenges of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in the Non-Experimental Social Sciences"

Deadline for paper submissions: January 21st 2016

Session Organizers: Bernd Weiß bernd.weiss@uni-due.de, Ariel M. Aloe ariel-aloe@uiowa.edu, Stephan Bruns bruns@uni-kassel.de

Session Abstract ---------------- A systematic review aims to comprehensively identify, appraise, and synthesize all relevant empirical studies on a given topic. Systematic reviews can be conducted in a qualitative or quantitative manner. The latter includes a meta-analysis. A meta-analysis can be thought of as a collection of statistical analyses used to examine results from individual studies with the general purpose of integrating findings.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are most popular in research disciplines which typically produce experimental studies (e.g., medicine or psychology). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that rely on observational, non-experimental studies (e.g., survey-based studies and quasi-experimental designs) are less frequently conducted, as is the case with sociology. This is likely due to the fact that observational studies face a number of methodological issues such as confounding or endogenous selection bias. To overcome these issues, various statistical techniques are applied, which are difficult to summarize using standard meta-analytic procedures.

We invite papers addressing methodological challenges as well as (qualitative or quantitative) applications of systematic reviews and meta-analyses that specifically focus on observational studies. This may also include meta-analyses that are based on individual person/patient data. Methodologically-oriented contributions could deal with the question "How meta-analysis methods can synthesize data that stem from heterogeneous studies?". Heterogeneity may be induced, for example, because of the use of different estimation procedures (multilevel models, generalized linear models, discrete choice models, etc.) or by the use of different regression specifications. Another source of heterogeneity and a threat to the validity of a systematic review is publication bias. Applications from all fields are welcome if they relate to the synthesis of observational, non-experimental studies.

How to submit a paper abstract ------------------------------ 1. To submit a paper abstract for the RC33 9th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, you should visit:

http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/sociology/research/rc33-conference

After landing on the homepage, navigate to "Abstract Submission", which appears on the top left hand column of the webpage.

2. Complete the form in full. You may wish to cut and paste your abstract into the Abstract field from another document.

3. Choose the relevant session for your stream. To do so you will need to select the relevant lead session organiser from the drop-down menu highlighted in the image below. To check you are submitting to the correct session, you can view a table of sessions and session convenors by clicking the link entitled "View the list of sessions and session convenors". Once complete, click submit.

Please feel free to contact us at bernd.weiss@uni-due.de if you have any question about the session.

We look forward to your proposals!

With kind regards,

Bernd Weiß Ariel M. Aloe Stephan Bruns