Cited by 2,955Meta-analysis and systematic reviewsStatistical Methods in Epidemiologyscientometrics and bibliometrics research

A Nonparametric “Trim and Fill” Method of Accounting for Publication Bias in Meta-Analysis

Duval, Sue, Tweedie, Richard·2000·Journal of the American Statistical Association

Abstract

Meta-analysis collects and synthesizes results from individual studies to estimate an overall effect size. If published studies are chosen, say through a literature review, then an inherent selection bias may arise, because, for example, studies may tend to be published more readily if they are statistically significant, or deemed to be more “interesting” in terms of the impact of their outcomes. We develop a simple rank-based data augmentation technique, formalizing the use of funnel plots, to estimate and adjust for the numbers and outcomes of missing studies. Several nonparametric estimators are proposed for the number of missing studies, and their properties are developed analytically and through simulations. We apply the method to simulated and epidemiological datasets and show that it is both effective and consistent with other criteria in the literature.

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Crossref · 10.1080/01621459.2000.10473905

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Authors
Duval, S., & Tweedie, R.
Affiliations
  • Colorado State University (US)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
Venue
Journal of the American Statistical Association
Published
2000-03
Volume
95
Issue
449
Pages
89-98
ISSN
  • 0162-1459 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-274X
OpenAlex
W2043565183
Cited by
2,955
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 106 · 2025: 167 · 2024: 189 · 2023: 171 · 2022: 233 · 2021: 275 · 2020: 259 · 2019: 179 · 2018: 184 · 2017: 160 · 2016: 142 · 2015: 149 · 2014: 128 · 2013: 91 · 2012: 101
FWCI
21.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of the American Statistical Association (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › scientometrics and bibliometrics research
Keywords
publication bias, trim and fill, missing studies, funnel plot, nonparametric estimators, selection bias, meta-analysis, effect size estimation

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