Contour-enhanced funnel plots for meta-analysis

Tom M. Palmer (), Jaime L. Peters, Alex J. Sutton and Santiago G. Moreno
Additional contact information
Tom M. Palmer: Department of Heath Sciences, University of Leicester
Jaime L. Peters: School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology
Alex J. Sutton: Department of Heath Sciences, University of Leicester
Santiago G. Moreno: Department of Heath Sciences, University of Leicester

Stata Journal, 2008, vol. 8, issue 2, 242-254

Abstract: Funnel plots are commonly used to investigate publication and related biases in meta-analysis. Although asymmetry in the appearance of a funnel plot is often interpreted as being caused by publication bias, in reality the asymmetry could be due to other factors that cause systematic differences in the results of large and small studies, for example, confounding factors such as differential study quality. Funnel plots can be enhanced by adding contours of statistical significance to aid in interpreting the funnel plot. If studies appear to be missing in areas of low statistical significance, then it is possible that the asymmetry is due to publication bias. If studies appear to be missing in areas of high statistical significance, then publication bias is a less likely cause of the funnel asymmetry. It is proposed that this enhancement to funnel plots should be used routinely for meta-analyses where it is possible that results could be suppressed on the basis of their statistical significance. Copyright 2008 by StataCorp LP.

Keywords: confunnel; funnel plots; meta-analysis; publication bias; small-study effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (32)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.stata-journal.com/article.html?article=gr0033
http://www.stata-journal.com/software/sj8-2/gr0033/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tsj:stataj:v:8:y:2008:i:2:p:242-254

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.stata-journal.com/subscription.html

Access Statistics for this article

Stata Journal is currently edited by Nicholas J. Cox and Stephen P. Jenkins

More articles in Stata Journal from StataCorp LLC
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F. Baum () and Lisa Gilmore ().