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[R-meta] Question regarding Generalized Linear Mixed-effects Model for Meta-analysis

Two additions:

1) Estimation of the sampling variance of a mean proportion is a bit more complex.

Assume that in a given study there are n subjects, each of which completes t trials. So, for each subject, there is a proportion, p_i = x_i/t, where x_i denotes the number of 'successes' on the t trials. Let p = sum p_i / n denote the mean proportion and s^2 the variance of the proportions. Then the sampling variance of p can be estimated with:

v = (p*(1-p) - s^2) / (n*t).

So, when meta-analyzing values of p from multiple studies, the sampling variances should be computed in this way.

2) Instead of meta-analyzing values of p directly (which indeed might lead to predicted values outside of the 0-1 range), we can meta-analyze ln(p/(1-p)) values, which are unbounded and back-transformed values will always be in the 0-1 range. The sampling variance of ln(p/(1-p)) can be estimated with:

v = 1/(p*(1-p))^2 * (p*(1-p) - s^2) / (n*t)

Best,
Wolfgang

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Dewey [mailto:lists at dewey.myzen.co.uk] 
Sent: Wednesday, 03 January, 2018 10:59
To: Akifumi Yanagisawa; Viechtbauer Wolfgang (SP)
Cc: r-sig-meta-analysis at r-project.org
Subject: Re: [R-meta] Question regarding Generalized Linear Mixed-effects Model for Meta-analysis

Dear Aki

In that case why not just use the mean and its sampling variance in the 
usual way? This may lead to impossible predictions as there will be no 
way of specifying that the means are bounded above and below but it may 
be the best you can do with what they have published.

Michael
On 02/01/2018 20:48, Akifumi Yanagisawa wrote: