Common Mistakes in Meta-Analysis and How to Avoid Them Paperback – August 27, 2019

Easy to read and a great practical guide book with relatable examples especially for a student like me who is novice in conducting a meta-analysis for my PhD research project.It is essential to develop the understanding of the common mistakes in meta-analyses and how to avoid making them. This is crucial in obtaining accurate meta-analyses results.This book also contains very useful explanations on how to interpret and report the meta-analyses results. An essential reference for anyone interested in using a meta-analysis in your research.

Michael Borenstein, Ph.D. has worked, taught, conducted research, served the academic community by assisting on several review groups and advisory panels, developed statistical software programs, and published within the meta-analysis scientific area. He is acknowledged as a distinguished expert and is exceptionally positioned to author this landmark textbook. I have read the book and found it to be a critical addition to my library. It is helpful in expanding and developing my knowledge of meta-analysis, and especially in avoiding common mistakes when conducting systematic reviews of interventions.The author has chosen to identify and explain 42 mistakes made when conducting these important analyses. He uses excellent, easily understood examples for you to apply and learn the principles of meta-analysis. The author explains why each is a mistake, the implications of the mistake, and how you can avoid the mistake.You will never forget the history behind the term “forest plots” and will learn why you should refer to them as “forest plots” and not “Forest plots” even though you will see that term referenced in the literature.If you are new to this area of statistical analysis, there is no better book for you to read at this early stage in your career. It provides a historical perspective to help you understand where the industry was and where it is headed in terms of the evolution of meta-analysis when applied to social, behavioral, educational, medical, clinical, regulatory, or legal applications. If you need to know the basics and wonder “Why do meta-analyses and what are the different models that can be used?” this book, starting with the preface and continuing through chapters 6 and 7, is for you. Before you get to page 42 you will learn what many don’t seem to know or remember; how to decide on the model to use up front, prior to your analysis. Dr. Borenstein will give you a solid explanation to support that fundamental principle. Refer to chapter 4 to obtain websites for this book, the software program Comprehensive Meta-Analysis, upcoming workshops, and then register your email to receive updates to remain current and competent. Finally, review the glossary in chapter 15. Now you will be ready to actively participate in your first meta-analysis team meeting using your solid, fundamentally sound foundation.If you are a seasoned professional, grounded in the basics already, you will enjoy the following chapters with discussions regarding (1) issues and myths about statistical models, (2) heterogeneity, (3) mistakes related to significance testing, (4) publication bias, (5) mistakes in subgroup analyses, (6) features of the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software program, and (7) how to correctly report the results of an analysis. Relevant examples are presented. Study them. For a more in-depth review, the author includes ten appendices that contain supplementary material which may be helpful in providing a more comprehensive understanding of your research question or problem.Reflecting on my experience reading this book, I personally found value in (1) knowing what the 42 mistakes were, (2) the easily understood summary sections the author provides, and (3) the “Putting it all together” sections. He clarifies the issues that were previously ambiguous. The section on heterogeneity and prediction interval, an index of dispersion, was of enormous value and very practical to me. I learned what the I squared statistic correctly is and is not; it really doesn’t tell you how effects vary, despite the widespread misconception in the literature. It tells us what proportion of the variance in observed effects reflects variation in true effects, rather than sampling error. It does not tell us how much variation there is. Rely on the prediction interval instead. Finally, templates were provided to assist with reporting results that communicate clearly to my intended audience.In this life, few are given the responsibility or opportunity to change the world (or at least a piece of it where you live) by analyzing significant data correctly. Don’t model your comprehensive reviews and analyses on what others have published in the literature. Base it on the principles learned in this book. It is a 5-star, brilliantly written, expertly communicated reference that has received my highest recommendation. Avoid making the 43rd mistake by not having this as part of your library.

Amazing, is how I would describe this chef d’oeuvre. The "Common Mistakes in Meta-Analysis And How to Avoid Them" by Dr. Borenstein is the amalgam of years of applied meta-analytic research with that of theory studies in statistics and research methods. This seminal work underscores common and uncommon blunders, unknowingly carried by students and researchers running meta-analytic projects. This work covers topics related to the use of inappropriate statistical model (fixed or random effect model), wrongfully interpreting information from the various meta-analytic plots, lack of clear understanding of the power of meta-analysis and studies included, partial heterogeneity appraisal via statistical tools, mistakenly using significant testing in meta-analysis, assessing publication bias and forgetting all other biases, and issues related to the use of Fail-Safe N, sub-group analysis, meta-regression application, and reporting of results. I highly recommend this tome to my colleagues as a steppingstone and a reference tool for teaching and conducting the art of meta-analysis.

THANK YOU!!!!!!I have only done one meta-analysis study and struggled as I wrote up the results. I used other published manuscripts and they were all over the board in terms of what they included and how they explained things. I did the best I could and how much easier it would have been if I had already read this book. But then I would not appreciate what a gift Mr Borenstein has given all of us 😊. I am thankful beyond words!

Fast delivery. Fast refund after buying something by mistake. The book is reasonable for me. I can easily implement the topic into practice as it brings examples to disscuss possible difficulties in such analysis from different angle.

Excellent resource for beginners, and experienced researchers working with meta-analysis! Clearly explained with a lot of examples from the literature.

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Se você faz metanálises, não pense duas vezes. Este livro é essencial!