Statistical Meta-Analysis with Applications

An accessible introduction to performing meta-analysis acrossvarious areas of research The practice of meta-analysis allows researchers to obtainfindings from various studies and compile them to verify and formone overall conclusion. Statistical Meta-Analysis with Applicationspresents the necessary statistical methodologies that allow readersto tackle the four main stages of meta-analysis: problemformulation, data collection, data evaluation, and data analysisand interpretation. Combining the authors' expertise on the topicwith a wealth of up-to-date information, this book successfullyintroduces the essential statistical practices for making thoroughand accurate discoveries across a wide array of diverse fields,such as business, public health, biostatistics, and environmentalstudies. Two main types of statistical analysis serve as the foundationof the methods and techniques: combining tests of effect size andcombining estimates of effect size. Additional topics coveredinclude: * Meta-analysis regression procedures * Multiple-endpoint and multiple-treatment studies * The Bayesian approach to meta-analysis * Publication bias * Vote counting procedures * Methods for combining individual tests and combining individualestimates * Using meta-analysis to analyze binary and ordinal categoricaldata Numerous worked-out examples in each chapter provide the readerwith a step-by-step understanding of the presented methods. Allexercises can be computed using the R and SAS software packages,which are both available via the book's related Web site. Extensivereferences are also included, outlining additional sources forfurther study. Requiring only a working knowledge of statistics, StatisticalMeta-Analysis with Applications is a valuable supplement forcourses in biostatistics, business, public health, and socialresearch at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. It is alsoan excellent reference for applied statisticians working inindustry, academia, and government.