This article contributes to the practice of coding in meta-analyses by offering direction and advice for experienced and novice meta-analysts on the “how” of coding. The coding process, the invisible architecture of any meta-analysis, has received comparably little attention in methodological resources, leaving the research community with insufficient guidance on “how” it should be rigorously planned (i.e., cohere with the research objective), conducted (i.e., make reliable and valid coding decisions), and reported (i.e., in a sufficiently transparent manner for readers to comprehend the authors’ decision-making). A lack of rigor in these areas can lead to erroneous results, which is problematic for entire research communities who build their future knowledge upon meta-analyses. Along four steps, the guidelines presented here elucidate “how” the coding process can be performed in a coherent, efficient, and credible manner that enables connectivity with future research, thereby enhancing the reliability and validity of meta-analytic findings. Our recommendations also support editors and reviewers in advising authors on how to improve the rigor of their coding and ultimately establish higher quality standards in meta-analytic research.

本文通过为有经验和新手的元分析人员提供有关编码“如何”的指导和建议，为元分析中的编码实践做出了贡献。编码过程，即任何元分析的隐形架构，在方法论资源中受到的关注相对较少，使得研究界对“如何”严格计划（即与研究目标一致）、进行（即做出可靠和有效的编码决策）和报告（即以足够透明的方式让读者理解作者的决策）。这些领域缺乏严谨性可能会导致错误的结果，这对于在元分析基础上构建未来知识的整个研究社区来说是个问题。四个步骤，此处介绍的指南阐明了“如何”以连贯、高效和可信的方式执行编码过程，以实现与未来研究的联系，从而提高元分析结果的可靠性和有效性。我们的建议还支持编辑和审稿人就如何提高编码的严谨性并最终在元分析研究中建立更高的质量标准向作者提供建议。