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[R-meta] Dependant variable in Meta Analysis

Wolfgang Viechtbauer 
Dear Tarun,

What exactly do you mean by 'beta coefficient'? A standardized regression coefficient? In the (very unlikely) case that the model includes no other predictors and is just a standard regression model, then the standardized regression coefficient for that single predictor is actually identical to the correlation beteen the predictor and the outcome and converting this correlation via Fisher's r-to-z transformation is fine (and then 1/(n-3) can be used as the corresponding sampling variance). However, if there are other predictors in the model, then the standardized regression coefficient is not a simple correlation and while one can still apply Fisher's r-to-z transformation to the coefficient, it will not have a variance of 1/(n-3) and assuming so would be wrong.

Why don't you just meta-analyze the 'beta coefficients' directly? If these coefficients reflect percentage change, it sounds like they are 'unitless' and comparable across studies. Then you get the pooled estimate of the percentage change directly from the model.

Best,
Wolfgang

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Tarun Khanna Dependant variable in Meta Analysis Jun 4 Wolfgang Viechtbauer Dependant variable in Meta Analysis Jun 4 Tarun Khanna Dependant variable in Meta Analysis Jun 4 Wolfgang Viechtbauer Dependant variable in Meta Analysis Jun 4 Tarun Khanna Dependant variable in Meta Analysis Jun 5 Wolfgang Viechtbauer Dependant variable in Meta Analysis Jun 7