释义 |
funnel plot funnel plota graphic method of detecting publication bias. The estimate of risk derived from a set of epidemiologic studies used in a metaanalysis is plotted against sample size. If there is no publication bias, the plot is funnel-shaped; if studies giving significant results are more likely to be published than negative studies, the plot is asymmetric. See also: metaanalysis. A scatterplot of treatment effect against a measure of study size used primarily as a visual aid for detecting bias or systematic heterogeneity. A symmetric inverted funnel shape is seen in ‘well-behaved’ data for which publication bias is unlikely and which is thus suited for inclusion in a meta-analysis. An asymmetric funnel indicates a relationship between treatment effect and study size, due either to publication bias or a systematic difference between smaller and larger studies—‘small study effects’fun·nel plot (fŭn'ĕl plot) A graphic method of detecting publication bias. The estimate of risk derived from a set of epidemiologic studies used in a metaanalysis is plotted against sample size. If there is no publication bias, the plot is funnel shaped; if studies giving significant results are more likely to be published than negative studies, the plot is asymmetric. See also: metaanalysis |