Fits random effects meta-analysis models including robust models

Description

Allows fitting of random effects meta-analysis producing confidence intervals based on the profile likelihood (Hardy and Thompson, 1996). Two methods of robust meta-analysis are included, based on either the t-distribution (Baker and Jackson (2008) and Lee and Thompson (2008)) or normal-mixture distribution (Beath, 2014). Tests can be performed for the need for a robust model, using a parametric bootstrap, and for the normal-mixture the identity of the outliers using the posterior probability. Plots are produced allowing a comparison between the results of each method. Where possible use has been made of the metafor package.

The metaplus function

This is the main function that allows fitting the models. The metaplus objects may be plotted, using plot, and tested for outliers using testOutliers. The results of tests.outliers may also be plotted.

Author(s)

Ken Beath <ken.beath@mq.edu.au>

References

Baker, R., & Jackson, D. (2008). A new approach to outliers in meta-analysis. Health Care Management Science, 11(2), 121-131. doi:10.1007/s10729-007-9041-8

Beath, K. J. (2014). A finite mixture method for outlier detection and robustness in meta-analysis. Research Synthesis Methods, (in press). doi:10.1002/jrsm.1114

Hardy, R. J., & Thompson, S. G. (1996). A likelihood approach to meta-analysis with random effects. Statistics in Medicine, 15, 619-629.

Lee, K. J., & Thompson, S. G. (2008). Flexible parametric models for random effects distributions. Statistics in Medicine, 27, 418-434. doi:10.1002/sim

Results