[R-meta] Different results for tests of funnel plot asymmetry using R package meta and metafor

[Guido Schwarzer]

Hi Wolfgang,

Thank you for the explanations and the R code. I did not know that using 
argument /test/ in rma.uni() has any influence on the test for 
funnelplot asymmetry. AFAICS, the help pages of rma.uni() and regtest() 
do not describe this feature.

Concerning the use of a standard normal or t-distribution, I think the 
behavior of metabias() is more consistent as the classic Egger test 
(/method = "linreg"/) and the Thompson-Sharp test (/method = "mm"/) only 
differ in their weights: 1 / seTE^2 versus 1 / (seTE^2 + tau2).

This said, I think it would be interesting to evaluate the properties of 
the Knapp-Hartung variant of the regression test for funnel plot asymmetry.

Best wishes,
Guido


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