An introduction to meta-analysis with applications in R

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Meta-analysis is the process of combining the estimates (effects) from several different studies to obtain a single estimated effect. By pooling these effects, we can increase power and explore new research questions. While conducting a meta-analysis in R is not a difficult thing to do, it is true that many published meta-analyses are not done well. This is because there is much to think about, including which model to use, the importance and acceptance of heterogeneity and what that means for interpretation, the potential for publication bias and so on. In this session I will introduce meta-analysis and highlight a few things that need to be considered to ensure that the analysis can be trusted. I will show how simple it is to carry out a meta-analysis in R on some real data sets.