Cumulative meta-analysis: A consideration of indicators of sufficiency andstability

This article considers the application of cumulative meta-analysis, defined as the procedure of performing a (new) meta-analysis at every point during the history of a research domain. Twodistinct facets of cumulative knowled ge are identified: sufficiency ("Are additional studies needed to establish the existence of the phenomenon? ") and stability ("Will additional studie s change the aggregate Picture of the phenomenon?"). These two facets of cu mulative knowledge define the purpose of the present effort: How can we det ermine whether a cumulative meta-analytic database has achieved sufficiency and stability? The authors delineate indicators of sufficiency and stabili ty that might be derived from cumulative meta-analyses and explore the use of these indicators in a set of previously published meta-analytic database s. Discussion explores both retrospective and prospective implications of t his approach to cumulative knowledge and compares the implications of this approach to cumulative knowledge with alternative views of social psycholog y as history.