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[R-meta] Reproducing results using regtest in metafor

Thanks James

Again, your response is super helpful.

(I did have a dig into the code of regtest but wasn't confident I knew enough about it to reliably unpick it). The point you make about coherence is important. It is interesting to note that the multiplicative error of the test as specified (originally by Egger) was due to it being conceived with respect to a Galbraith plot (which has standardised effect on one axis so regression is "divided through" by the standard error) not any real belief about the error structure - but it has stuck and does deal with the scenario of underdispersion (less variability than expected by chance even under fixed effect) which could occur if the most extreme study results under a fixed effect assumption have been suppressed.

So while the test as regtest conducts it does not mix errors, there is still the issue that the analysis strategy does (i.e. why use different error structures for baseline risk on its own and when adding in the standard error for asymmetry testing?). One thing in favour of the "2-stage" analysis is that it allows the construction of a funnel based on the residuals to see how its appearance changes as a result of adjusting for the initial covariate.

Thanks again for all your help - I now understand what is going on and thus you have comprehensively answered my question.

Very best wishes

Alex
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