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Meta-analysis enables researchers to analyze the findings of studies related to the specific area in the form of a specific research question. Based on the results of these reviews for the specific subject, development of new theories and experimental models is provided. Often, by exploring studies in a particular field, we encounter a large number of studies which were conducted on the same variables. Despite the similarity of studied subjects, it seems that the methods, for example experimental vs. survey or populations of these studies are different. Since, the result of these studies often is not similar, so we need a method based on combining the various results together to improve our knowledge about the subject of study. In the same way, meta-analysis, with the aim of statistically combining results of previous researches, follows two major processes: 1- in addition to making summary and description on the results of studies in the history of specific subject, it also follows the level of relations or a real difference in the populations of various studies, and 2- It estimates the effect of methodological properties of studies on the level of differences or the estimated relationships in various studies in the specific fields. In the present paper, approaches, goals, advantages, disadvantages of meta-analysis procedure in the field of social, and behavioral sciences were discussed.

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Aim and Background: In recent years, experts in the field of obsessive-compulsive disorder have been trying to measure the validity and efficiency of pharmaceutical interventions. The meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of medication on symptoms of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Methods and Materials: This meta-analysis was conducted on studies during the past decade in Iran. Therefore, 20 studies which have been conducted with approved and accurate methodology during the past 10 years were selected and divided into control and experimental groups. They were then investigated based on the meta-analysis method. The research tool was the meta-analysis checklist. Findings: The effect size of pharmaceutical treatment on reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms was d= 1.11 (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: According to Cohen's power table for effect size, the effect size of pharmaceutical treatment on reducing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder was high.

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Aim and Background: This meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between mental health and social support in Iran. Methods and Materials: In order to assess the relationship between mental health and social support, eight eligible studies with acceptable methodology were selected. Findings: The effect size of the relationship between mental health and social support in Iran was 0.369. Conclusions: Since the effect size of the relationship between mental health and social support in Iran was higher than moderate, social support needs to be strengthened in the country.

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Aim and Background:In recent years in Iran, several studies have examined the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior therapy and Schema therapy  in the field of conflict resolving  and enriching the couple's .relationship.The purpose of this study is to integrate the results of previous research and compare the effectiveness of these interventions on marital quality components.
Materials and Methods:For this purpose, meta-analysis was used as a statistical technique to determine, collect, combine and summarize research findings related to the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior therapy and Schema therapy on the components of marital quality of couples.The statistical population of the study includes researches conducted in Iran in the field of mentioned psychotherapies . The statistical sample includes research conducted in this field inside Iran. For this purpose, 19 studies were selected.After reviewing 17 researches that were methodologically acceptable, they were analyzed.The research tool was a meta-analysis checklist and CMA software was used to analyze the data.
Results:The results showed the magnitude of the combined effect of the treatments(P <0.01) was equal to r = 0.629, which is equivalent to z_r = 0.739 and g = 1.557, and according to Cohen's interpretation table means the size of the effect is large or high. Also, the results did not show a significant difference between the effect size of Dialectical Behavior therapy and Schema therapy.                                                                   
Conclusion:Based on the results of this meta-analysis, dialectical behavior therapy and schema therapy are effective in improving the marital quality components of couples.

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Aim and Background: People with social anxiety face problems in many personal and social fields, including interpersonal relationships, due to the anxiety caused by being in social situations. Therefore, experts try to reduce its effects by performing psychological interventions. Accordingly, in this research, a meta-analysis comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) interventions on social anxiety was considered to investigate the real effect of these interventions.
Methods and Materials: For this purpose, among the many research related to this topic, 68 research (31 ACT and 37 CBT research) were found in reliable databases such as Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc), Iranian publications (Magiran), Comprehensive Portal of Human Sciences, Scientific information database (SID), PubMed, Islamic world science citation (ISC) and science journals and conference proceedings publisher (Civilica) were selected and meta-analysis was done on them. This research is based on 68 effect sizes and the tool used was the meta-analysis checklist. Data were analyzed using CMA-3 software.
Findings: The research findings showed that the effect size of interventions and training based on acceptance and commitment therapy on social anxiety was 0.603 (P <.001) and for cognitive-behavioral interventions was 0.635 (P <.001).
Conclusions: The obtained effect size in terms of r value for psychological interventions (ACT and CBT) on social anxiety is high, so it can be said that both psychological interventions can effectively reduce social anxiety, but according to the results, obtained effect size is higher for cognitive-behavioral therapy compared to acceptance and commitment therapy.

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Aim and Background: Today, chronic pain is one of the main treatment challenges that affects many of the patient's daily activities. Various methods have been investigated to increase the quality of life in these patients. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is one of the promising interventions to improve quality of life in such patients. The aim of this study was to systematically review and meta-analysis the effectiveness of ACT on improving the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases in Iran.
Methods and Materials: In this study, the studies conducted in Persian language in the last decade (from 2011-03-21 to 2023-05-22) in internal databases (Sid, Magiran,Ganj, Irandoc, Civilica). The results were expressed in terms of Hedges effect size and the corresponding 95% confidence interval.
Findings: Out of 482 articles, 33 articles were used to conduct a meta-analysis of the effectiveness post-test compared to the control and 11 studies were used to investigate the effectiveness in the follow-up compared to the post-test. The effectiveness of ACT on post-test, the estimated effect size was 1.585 (CI=1.165 - 2.556 CI), and in the follow-up, the effect size was estimated to be 0.983 (CI=0.785 – 1.181).
Conclusions: Overall, the results showed that ACT improved the quality of life in patients with chronic diseases by 185% in the post-test and 98.3% in the follow-up period. Based on this, it can be said that this psychological therapy is a suitable method to improve the quality of life in these patients.