META-ANALYSIS AS THE BASIS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: AN ENERGY CASE

Abstract

Introduction. The current stage of scientific knowledge development is characterized by the rapid growth of empirical research across various disciplines, resulting in the fragmentation of research findings and complicating the formation of a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena under investigation. This challenge is particularly evident in the field of energy research, where a substantial body of empirical evidence has accumulated regarding the efficiency of distributed generation, the resilience of energy systems, the economic feasibility of renewable energy sources, and transformation processes within the energy sector under conditions of structural change and crisis. Under these circumstances, traditional narrative literature reviews are no longer sufficient to synthesize heterogeneous and often contradictory research findings, thereby increasing the relevance of meta-analysis as a methodological tool for the systematic integration of scientific evidence.

Meta-analysis, as a methodology for the quantitative synthesis of independent research findings, overcomes the limitations of individual empirical studies by increasing the statistical power of conclusions, identifying hidden patterns and inconsistencies within existing evidence, and providing a basis for further scientific inquiry. In the energy sector, which is simultaneously influenced by technological innovations, regulatory transformations, climate challenges, and security risks—particularly those arising from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine—the application of a meta-analytical approach has become increasingly important for supporting evidence-based decision-making and developing scientifically grounded energy policies.

Despite the growing interest in meta-analysis as a research methodology, systematic studies addressing its application to energy-related issues remain limited in the Ukrainian scientific literature. This is particularly evident with respect to the spatial dimension of electricity sector development, the operation of energy systems under martial law, and the formation of so-called energy islands. Consequently, there is a need for a theoretical reconsideration of the methodological foundations of meta-analysis and for their adaptation to the specific characteristics of energy research.

The aim of this paper is to substantiate meta-analysis as a methodological foundation for scientific research in the energy sector and to identify the specific features of its application.

Materials and Methods. The study was based on scientific publications addressing both the theoretical and applied aspects of meta-analysis as a method for evidence-based synthesis of research findings. The information base included methodological guidelines on conducting meta-analysis as well as review studies published in the scientific literature.

In the process of research, a complex of general scientific and special methods was used. The generalization method is used to systematize theoretical approaches to meta-analysis and determine its role in the formation of the evidence base of scientific research. The methods of analysis and synthesis are used to study modern methodological approaches and generalize the results of the research. The method of meta-analysis is declared as the main tool of scientific research. The method of comparative analysis is used to compare methodological approaches to conducting meta-analysis in different industries. A logical generalization of the results is used to formulate conclusions about the methodological advantages of using meta-analysis, substantiation of the evidence-based approach in making managerial decisions in the field of development of energy islands and microgrids.

Results. The study systematized contemporary approaches to the application of meta-analysis as a tool for the evidence-based synthesis of scientific findings and substantiated its role in the advancement of modern research methodology. The principal stages of conducting a meta-analysis were identified, including the formulation of the research question, the establishment of study inclusion criteria, the selection of effect size measures, the choice of an appropriate statistical model, the assessment of heterogeneity, and the evaluation of potential systematic bias. A generalized methodological framework for conducting meta-analysis, adapted to the specific characteristics of energy research, was proposed. The framework ensures a consistent procedure for selecting scientific sources, statistically synthesizing research findings, and generating evidence-based conclusions.

Based on the analysis of scientific publications, the methodological features of applying meta-analysis across different scientific disciplines were identified, and its adaptability to the assessment of the effectiveness of energy islands and microgrids was demonstrated. Using an energy case study, the practical applicability of meta-analysis for synthesizing research findings on the operation of energy islands under martial law and during the post-war recovery period was illustrated.

The obtained results provide a methodological foundation for the further application of meta-analysis in studies of energy security, distributed energy generation, and the evaluation of post-war modernization projects for Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Prospects for further research are the creation of specialized databases of the results of scientific research in the field of energy.