Meta-analysis and the science of research synthesis

Gurevitch, Jessica; Koricheva, Julia; Nakagawa, Shinichi; Stewart, Gavin

doi:10.1038/nature25753

Cited by 1,221 publications

(983 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…The prognostic value of the MMN, P300, EEG entropy variables, and fMRI responses to passive stimulation was not significant and characterized by strong heterogeneity of the primary datasets. 2 More promising results have been obtained in relation to the minimal improvement criterion. In addition to the EEG reactivity, significant effects are found for the MMN and sleep spindles.…”

Section: Meta-analysis Of Predictory Constructsmentioning

confidence: 60%

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between brain data and the outcome in Disorders of Consciousness

Pavlov¹

2018

Preprint

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A systematic search revealed 68 empirical studies of neurophysiological [EEG, eventrelated [MCS]). Data of 47 publications could be presented in a quantitative manner and systematically reviewed. Insufficient power and the lack of an appropriate description of patient selection each characterized about a half of all publications. In more than 80% studies, neurologists who evaluated the patients' outcomes were familiar with the results of neurophysiological tests conducted before, and may, therefore, have been influenced by this knowledge. In most subsamples of datasets, effect size significantly correlated with its standard error, indicating publication bias toward positive results. Neurophysiological data predicted the transition from UWS to MCS substantially better than they predicted the recovery of consciousness (i.e., the transition from UWS or MCS to exit-MCS). A meta-analysis was carried out for predictor groups including at least three independent studies with N > 10 per predictor per improvement criterion (i.e., transition to MCS versus recovery). Oscillatory EEG responses were the only predictor group whose effect attained significance for both improvement criteria. Other perspective variables, whose true prognostic value should be explored in future studies, are sleep spindles in the EEG and the somatosensory cortical response N20. Contrary to what could be expected on the basis of neuroscience theory, the poorest prognostic effects were shown for fMRI responses to stimulation and for the ERP component P300. The meta-analytic results should be regarded as preliminary given the presence of numerous biases in the data.

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Section: Meta-analysis Of Predictory Constructsmentioning

confidence: 60%

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between brain data and the outcome in Disorders of Consciousness

Pavlov¹

2018

Preprint

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“…As the principles and practice of EBM have become more accepted and widespread over the last few decades, there has been an accompanying tremendous growth in the number of systematic reviews and wider recognition of their value. From sporadic examples before the 1980s, through the estimated 3000 that were indexed in MEDLINE during the two decades to 2000,1 200 000 or more might now be available 2. More than 10 000 systematic reviews are published every year, and over 30 000 are registered in the prospective registry, PROSPERO 3.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections on the history of systematic reviews

Clarke

Chalmers²

2018

BMJ EBM

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“…An increasingly used analytical approach in conservation science is to synthesize the results of several primary studies through meta-analyses (Gurevitch et al 2018). Metaanalyses often have high scientific and social impact, especially in applied science, where different stakeholders may not have the time or expertise to read through the plethora of original studies (Koricheva et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of response measures in meta-analyses of land-use impacts on ecological communities: a review and the way forward

Hekkala

Roberge

2018

Biodivers Conserv

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Species richness and total abundance are two of the most commonly used response measures in empirical studies of the effects of anthropogenic land-use on biodiversity, in spite of the fact that they are insensitive to changes in a range of community attributes. We evaluated the extent to which meta-analyses about the effects of forest land-use on ecological communities make use of gross species richness, diversity and abundance measures (hereafter low-informative measures) as opposed to more refined response variables conveying a higher degree of conservation-relevant information, e.g., by accounting for compositional or functional changes in the communities (high-informative measures). Nearly one-half of the 221 included meta-analyses were based solely on low-informative measures. The prevalence of low-informative measures was higher for meta-analyses belonging to studies encompassing a broad taxonomic scope and it has increased since 2002. Few differences were detected in the use of response measures among taxonomic groups, although there were indications that some better-known groups tended to be more often studied with high-informative measures. To provide guidance for future work, we synthesized the highinformative measures of biodiversity used in the reviewed studies. For better-informed meta-analyses, we encourage the use of more refined approaches to quantify impacts on communities in addition to species richness and total abundance measures. This may involve, for example, the use of β diversity and functional diversity measures, as well as separate analyses for different ecological groups or conservation status categories.

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Meta-analysis and the science of research synthesis

Cited by 1,221 publications

References 96 publications

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between brain data and the outcome in Disorders of Consciousness

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between brain data and the outcome in Disorders of Consciousness

Reflections on the history of systematic reviews

The use of response measures in meta-analyses of land-use impacts on ecological communities: a review and the way forward

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