Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

Sensitivity methods for publication bias in a meta-analysis

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Malley, Paul (2009) Sensitivity methods for publication bias in a meta-analysis. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP_THESIS_Malley_2009.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer.

Download (962Kb)
Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b2339726~S15

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

Meta-analysis is the statistical part of a systematic review. Many researchers have
used selection functions to model publication bias in a meta-analysis. The main
problem with this approach is that it is impossible to verify that the selection function
truly represents the selection process, and so the use of selection functions can only
be seen as part of a sensitivity analysis. In this thesis we present new methods that
involve selection functions that aim to make as few strong assumptions about selection
as possible, including the use of a non-parametric permutation test, and the use of a
step selection function. We also investigate the use of parametric selection functions
and suggest how researchers could use these as part of a sensitivity analysis, by looking
at a range of plausible values for the overall selection probability. As part of this
sensitivity analysis, we assess the effectiveness of the Bounds method as presented
by Henmi et al. Throughout the thesis we illustrate all methods with numerical
examples, including a meta-analysis investigating the effects of environmental tobacco
smoke on the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Meta-analysis, Ranking and selection (Statistics)
Official Date: October 2009
Dates:
DateEvent
October 2009Submitted
Institution: University of Warwick
Theses Department: Department of Statistics
Thesis Type: PhD
Publication Status: Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: Copas, John B.
Extent: ix, 167 leaves : charts
Language: eng

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us