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Multivariate Location-Scale Models for Meta-Analysis

delete2026-03-01
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PRE
AI
K
Katrin Jansen *
S
Steffen Nestler
DOI:10.1080/00273171.2026.2643868delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Often, primary studies that are pooled in a meta-analysis provide information on several outcomes of interest. Multivariate meta-analysis allows to analyze these outcomes simultaneously and model their relationship, and in addition can be more efficient than separate, univariate meta-analyses. However, standard multivariate meta-analysis models typically assume that the between-study variances and correlations are constant across studies. While it is possible to relax this assumption of constant heterogeneity by using location-scale models in univariate meta-analysis, extensions to the multivariate case have not yet been proposed. Here, we fill this gap by describing a location-scale model for the multivariate setting where both the between-study variances of the different outcomes and the correlations between them can depend on covariates. We examine its performance in a simulation study, where we compare univariate and bivariate location-scale models and different estimation methods. In addition, we show how to apply this model to data from a meta-analysis on the effects of motivational reading instruction on reading achievement and motivation. We discuss the implications of our findings for further research on meta-analysis of multiple outcomes and provide recommendations for the use of multivariate location-scale meta-analysis in applications.
Keywords:
Multivariate meta-analysis
location-scale model
heterogeneity
mixed-effects models

Journal

M
Multivariate Behavioral Research
IF:
3.5
Papers:
1.8K
Citations:
9.4K

Organization

U
university of munster
Scholars:
2.9W
Papers: 2.2W
Citations: 45
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

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err2007-05-11
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errK. Jack Ishak; Robert W. Platt; Lawrence Joseph; James A. Hanley
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Multivariate meta‐analysis: Potential and promise
err2011-01-26
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errOAAI
errDan Jackson; Richard Riley; Ian R. White
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An evaluation of bivariate random‐effects meta‐analysis for the joint synthesis of two correlated outcomes
err2006-03-08
err0
PREAI
errR. D. Riley; K. R. Abrams; P. C. Lambert; A. J. Sutton; J. R. Thompson
errShare
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Location-scale models for meta-analysis
err2022-04-27
err13
errOAAI
errViechtbauer, Wolfgang; Antonio Lopez-Lopez, Jose
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