This dataset includes information compiled for the literature review meta-analysis portion for the Chesapeake Bay Stressor Identification Project. The dataset includes basic identifying information regarding the publication (last name of the first author, year published, study type, and number of observational units included in the study), the response metric for which results were reported, and the major source or driver that was the focus of the study. The dataset denotes for each stressor category whether a stressor was measured and whether the study’s analysis found it to be an important factor influencing the response metric. The results are reported for both coarse and fine stressor levels, since two stressor categories (geomorphology and toxic contaminants) were subdivided into finer scale categories (habitat and sediment for geomorphology, and pesticides, mercury, metals, and other for toxic contaminants).