The metafor Package

A Meta-Analysis Package for R

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news:news2020 [2021/11/05 08:48] – Wolfgang Viechtbauernews:news2020 [2021/11/25 09:26] – Wolfgang Viechtbauer
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 ~~NOTOC~~ ~~NOTOC~~
  
-==== November 14th, 2020: An Aggregate Function ====+==== 2020-11-14: An Aggregate Function ====
  
 In many meta-analyses, multiple effect size estimates or outcomes can be extracted from the same study. Ideally, such structures should be analyzed using an appropriate multilevel/multivariate model as can be fitted with the ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/rma.mv.html|rma.mv()]]'' function. However, there may occasionally be reasons for aggregating multiple effect sizes or outcomes belonging to the same study (or to the same level of some other clustering variable) into a single combined effect size or outcome. I've added an ''aggregate()'' function (or to be precise, an ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/aggregate.escalc.html|aggregate.escalc()]]'' method function) to the package for this purpose (see the documentation for some examples illustrating its use). In many meta-analyses, multiple effect size estimates or outcomes can be extracted from the same study. Ideally, such structures should be analyzed using an appropriate multilevel/multivariate model as can be fitted with the ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/rma.mv.html|rma.mv()]]'' function. However, there may occasionally be reasons for aggregating multiple effect sizes or outcomes belonging to the same study (or to the same level of some other clustering variable) into a single combined effect size or outcome. I've added an ''aggregate()'' function (or to be precise, an ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/aggregate.escalc.html|aggregate.escalc()]]'' method function) to the package for this purpose (see the documentation for some examples illustrating its use).
  
-==== October 14th, 2020: Selection Models ====+==== 2020-10-14: Selection Models ====
  
 I've added the possibility to fit so-called 'selection models' with the metafor package. In case you are not familiar with such models: Selection models attempt to model and therefore account for the process by which the studies included in a meta-analysis may have been influenced by some form of publication bias. In other words, some kind of selection process may have happened that made it more likely that certain types of studies will be published and hence are more easily found and therefore can be included in a meta-analysis (yes, one should always search the 'gray literature' for unpublished studies to be included in a meta-analysis, but uncovering those studies lingering in some file drawers out there can be exceedingly difficult). I've added the possibility to fit so-called 'selection models' with the metafor package. In case you are not familiar with such models: Selection models attempt to model and therefore account for the process by which the studies included in a meta-analysis may have been influenced by some form of publication bias. In other words, some kind of selection process may have happened that made it more likely that certain types of studies will be published and hence are more easily found and therefore can be included in a meta-analysis (yes, one should always search the 'gray literature' for unpublished studies to be included in a meta-analysis, but uncovering those studies lingering in some file drawers out there can be exceedingly difficult).
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 Note that the [[https://cran.r-project.org/package=weightr|weightr]] package can also fit step function models and some other selection models are implemented in the [[https://cran.r-project.org/package=metasens|metasens]] and [[https://cran.r-project.org/package=selectMeta|selectMeta]] packages. Note that the [[https://cran.r-project.org/package=weightr|weightr]] package can also fit step function models and some other selection models are implemented in the [[https://cran.r-project.org/package=metasens|metasens]] and [[https://cran.r-project.org/package=selectMeta|selectMeta]] packages.
  
-==== August 9th, 2020: R Code for Even More Meta-Analysis Books ====+==== 2020-04-09: R Code for Even More Meta-Analysis Books ====
  
 The R code for two more books has been added to the [[https://github.com/wviechtb/meta_analysis_books|GitHub repo]]: //The Handbook of Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis// by Cooper et al. (2019) and //Publication Bias in Meta-Analysis// by Rothstein et al. (2005). The R code for two more books has been added to the [[https://github.com/wviechtb/meta_analysis_books|GitHub repo]]: //The Handbook of Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis// by Cooper et al. (2019) and //Publication Bias in Meta-Analysis// by Rothstein et al. (2005).
  
-==== July 17th, 2020: R Code for Meta-Analysis Books ====+==== 2020-07-17: R Code for Meta-Analysis Books ====
  
 I've started a [[https://github.com/wviechtb/meta_analysis_books|repo on GitHub]] to provide R code for various books on meta-analysis. It now contains //Introduction to Meta-Analysis// by Borenstein et al. (2009) and //Practical Meta-Analysis// by Lipsey and Wilson (2001). More to be added. The items in the repo will also be listed under the [[:analyses#books_on_meta-analysis|Analysis Examples]] section. I've started a [[https://github.com/wviechtb/meta_analysis_books|repo on GitHub]] to provide R code for various books on meta-analysis. It now contains //Introduction to Meta-Analysis// by Borenstein et al. (2009) and //Practical Meta-Analysis// by Lipsey and Wilson (2001). More to be added. The items in the repo will also be listed under the [[:analyses#books_on_meta-analysis|Analysis Examples]] section.
  
-==== June 8th, 2020: Weights in Models Fitted with the rma.mv() Function ====+==== 2020-06-08: Weights in Models Fitted with the rma.mv() Function ====
  
 And another entry to the 'Tips and Notes' section, this time discussing how weighting works in more complex models, such as those that can be fitted with the ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/rma.mv.html|rma.mv()]]'' function. You can read the tutorial [[tips:weights_in_rma.mv_models|here]]. And another entry to the 'Tips and Notes' section, this time discussing how weighting works in more complex models, such as those that can be fitted with the ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/rma.mv.html|rma.mv()]]'' function. You can read the tutorial [[tips:weights_in_rma.mv_models|here]].
  
-==== May 27th, 2020: Computing Adjusted Effects Based on Meta-Regression Models ====+==== 2020-05-27: Computing Adjusted Effects Based on Meta-Regression Models ====
  
 I've added an entry to the 'Tips and Notes' section, discussing how to compute 'adjusted effects' based on meta-regression models. You can read the tutorial [[tips:computing_adjusted_effects|here]]. I've added an entry to the 'Tips and Notes' section, discussing how to compute 'adjusted effects' based on meta-regression models. You can read the tutorial [[tips:computing_adjusted_effects|here]].
  
-==== May 9th, 2020: Modeling Non-Linear Associations in Meta-Regression ====+==== 2020-05-09: Modeling Non-Linear Associations in Meta-Regression ====
  
 I've added an entry to the 'Tips and Notes' section, illustrating how to model non-linear associations in meta-regression using polynomial and restricted cubic spline models. You can read the little tutorial [[tips:non_linear_meta_regression|here]]. I've added an entry to the 'Tips and Notes' section, illustrating how to model non-linear associations in meta-regression using polynomial and restricted cubic spline models. You can read the little tutorial [[tips:non_linear_meta_regression|here]].
  
-==== March 31st, 2020: Interpreting Coefficients in Meta-Regression Models with (Log) Risk Ratios ====+==== 2020-03-31: Interpreting Coefficients in Meta-Regression Models with (Log) Risk Ratios ====
  
 Based on a question I received, I wrote up a little tutorial on how to interpret the coefficients in meta-regression models when using the log risk ratio as the outcome measure. When exponentiating coefficients, this leads to values that represent ratios of risk ratios, which may not be entirely obvious. You can read the tutorial [[tips:meta_regression_with_log_rr|here]]. Based on a question I received, I wrote up a little tutorial on how to interpret the coefficients in meta-regression models when using the log risk ratio as the outcome measure. When exponentiating coefficients, this leads to values that represent ratios of risk ratios, which may not be entirely obvious. You can read the tutorial [[tips:meta_regression_with_log_rr|here]].
  
-==== March 20th, 2020: Two New Functions for Network Meta-Analysis ====+==== 2020-03-20: Two New Functions for Network Meta-Analysis ====
  
 As a follow-up to yesterday's note, it is maybe worth mentioning that I also added two functions that are especially useful for those conducting network meta-analyses with the metafor package. With the ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/to.wide.html|to.wide()]]'' function, one can rearrange a dataset that is in an arm-based 'long' format to a contrast-based 'wide' format (see the documentation for examples illustrating the use of this function). Once the dataset is in such a wide format, an important next step is the construction of variables that reflect which two groups are being compared with each other in each row (through +1, 0, -1 coding). Such a contrast matrix can be easily created with the ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/contrmat.html|contrmat()]]'' function (again, see the documentation for examples illustrating its use). The datasets ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metadat/reference/dat.senn2013.html|dat.senn2013]]'' and ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metadat/reference/dat.hasselblad1998.html|dat.hasselblad1998]]'' illustrate the use of these functions (using arm- and contrast-based models). As a follow-up to yesterday's note, it is maybe worth mentioning that I also added two functions that are especially useful for those conducting network meta-analyses with the metafor package. With the ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/to.wide.html|to.wide()]]'' function, one can rearrange a dataset that is in an arm-based 'long' format to a contrast-based 'wide' format (see the documentation for examples illustrating the use of this function). Once the dataset is in such a wide format, an important next step is the construction of variables that reflect which two groups are being compared with each other in each row (through +1, 0, -1 coding). Such a contrast matrix can be easily created with the ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metafor/reference/contrmat.html|contrmat()]]'' function (again, see the documentation for examples illustrating its use). The datasets ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metadat/reference/dat.senn2013.html|dat.senn2013]]'' and ''[[https://wviechtb.github.io/metadat/reference/dat.hasselblad1998.html|dat.hasselblad1998]]'' illustrate the use of these functions (using arm- and contrast-based models).
  
-==== March 19th, 2020: New Version (2.4-0) on Its Way to CRAN ====+==== 2020-03-19: New Version (2.4-0) on Its Way to CRAN ====
  
 Just submitted a new version (2.4-0) to CRAN. This update was prompted by the upcoming change in R where the new  default will be ''stringsAsFactors=FALSE'' (at long last!). As a result, some tests were failing on R-devel, so these needed fixing. Along the way, I made various minor internal updates and added some convenience functionality to several functions. The full changelog can be found [[:updates#changes_in_version_24-0_2020-03-19|here]]. Just submitted a new version (2.4-0) to CRAN. This update was prompted by the upcoming change in R where the new  default will be ''stringsAsFactors=FALSE'' (at long last!). As a result, some tests were failing on R-devel, so these needed fixing. Along the way, I made various minor internal updates and added some convenience functionality to several functions. The full changelog can be found [[:updates#changes_in_version_24-0_2020-03-19|here]].
  
news/news2020.txt · Last modified: 2024/03/29 09:56 by Wolfgang Viechtbauer