Meta-analysis methods.
Meta-analysis is the quantitative synthesis of information from several studies. It is applicable to a variety of study designs in genetics, from family-based linkage studies and population-based association studies to genome-wide scans and genome-wide association studies. By combining relevant evidence from many studies, statistical power is increased and more precise estimates may be obtained. Most importantly, meta-analysis provides a framework for the appreciation and assessment of between-study heterogeneity, that is, the methodological, epidemiological, clinical, and biological dissimilarity across the various studies. Being a retrospective research design in most cases, meta-analysis is subject to a variety of selection biases that may undermine its validity. A major challenge is to differentiate genuine between-study heterogeneity from systematic errors and biases.
Trikalinos
Thomas A
TA
Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Salanti
Georgia
G
Zintzaras
Elias
E
Ioannidis
John P A
JP
D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008957:Models, Genetic