Interpreting the Negative Mood-Helping Literature via "Mega"-Analysis: A Contrary View

"Mega"-analysis was developed by Carlson and Miller as an extension of traditional meta-analytic procedures for conducting integrative reviews of existing research literatures. One such mega-analysis was conducted by Carlson and Miller (1987) to synthesize the literature on the relation between negative mood states and helping. That analysis found no support for a theoretical account-negative state relief-that had been confirmed previously by using various experimental approaches. In an attempt to reconcile the discrepancy, we examined the logic and methods used in Carlson and Miller's mega-analysis of the negative mood-helping literature and found several serious problems. These problems are discussed, and data are presented to show that the results of that mega-analysis, and perhaps all mega-analyses, should not be viewed with confidence.