[R-meta] Including subsections of test and overall test results in rma.mv

[Yuhang Hu]

Hello Meta Experts,

I'm exploring the relation between a personality trait and an
achievement test outcome across a set of studies.

Some studies report the relation of the trait with both the overall
achievement test outcome (one correlation) as well as the subsections of
the test outcomes (multiple correlations).

I'm interested in exploring the relationship mentioned above <<both>> in
terms of the overall achievement test outcome as well as the subsections of
the test outcomes.

So, my current data looks like what I'm showing below.

I do have a V matrix in my model that correlates the correlation coefs in
each study due to the same subjects taking the subsections of the test
outcomes <<as well as>> the overall test outcome.

*My question is that: given my V matrix, is it fine if I include both the
subsections of the test as well as the overall test outcomes in the same
model?*

(My hunch is that this is not permissible because in the current model the
overall test outcome is essentially treated as a new outcome while the
overall test outcome essentially subsumes the subsections of the test
outcomes, not a new outcome.)

rma.mv(r2z~test_outcome, V, random=~1 | trait_scale/study/test_outcome/es)

study trait_scale test_outcome  r2z   v_r2z  es
1         epq           overall
1         epq           writing
1         epq           reading
1         epq           speaking
2         16pf          overall
3         epi            writing
3         epi            speaking

Thank you,
Yuhang

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