[R-meta] Inverting negative correlations

Dear David,

Yes, this is correct because

Cov(X,-Y) = - Cov(X,Y)

and the same holds for the correlations.

It is important that the wording is correct. For your example, the 
interpretation would be that if there is a negative correlation between 
social anxiety and extraversion, there is a positive correlation between 
social anxiety and intraversion.

Best,

Gerta

Am 06.01.2021 um 19:50 schrieb david detullio:

Hello all, I want to include correlation coefficients in a random-effects
model for meta-analysis. If the majority of the correlations are 
positive,
could I use the absolute values of any negative correlations if such
correlations would have been positive had one of the measures been 
reverse
scored? As an example, say there is a negative correlation between a
measure for social anxiety and a measure for extraversion. Would it be
possible to take the absolute value of the correlation under the 
assumption
that the correlation would be positive if the measure for extraversion 
was
reverse scored? Any answers would be appreciated, and if anyone knows of
source material that talks about this process, the reference would be
appreciated as well.

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