| name | ma-meta-analysis |
| description | Run statistical meta-analysis in R with renv, generate effect estimates, heterogeneity, and publication bias diagnostics, and export figures and tables. Use when analyzing extracted study data. |
Ma Meta Analysis
Overview
Analyze extracted data using standard meta-analysis methods and produce validated outputs.
Inputs
05_extraction/extraction.csv
05_extraction/data-dictionary.md
Outputs
06_analysis/01_setup.R
06_analysis/02_effect_sizes.R
06_analysis/03_models.R
06_analysis/04_subgroups_meta_regression.R
06_analysis/05_plots.R
06_analysis/06_tables.R
06_analysis/07_sensitivity.R
06_analysis/08_bias.R
06_analysis/09_validation.R
06_analysis/07_export_tables.R
06_analysis/figures/ PNG files at 300 dpi
06_analysis/tables/ PNG + HTML + DOCX + CSV tables (via gt + flextable)
06_analysis/validation.md
06_analysis/renv.lock
Statistical Defaults
All models must use REML + Hartung-Knapp (Cochrane mandate, July 2025):
Run DerSimonian-Laird as sensitivity analysis for comparison, but REML + HKSJ is the primary result.
Workflow
- Initialize
renv in 06_analysis/ and record package versions.
- Run
renv::init() in 06_analysis/
- Creates
06_analysis/renv.lock
- Copy the R templates from
assets/r/ into 06_analysis/ and adapt them to the study schema.
- Copy
assets/r/01_setup.R → 06_analysis/01_setup.R
- Copy templates 02-09 similarly
- Compute effect sizes with
metafor::escalc for the outcome type.
- In
06_analysis/02_effect_sizes.R (use metafor::escalc() function)
- Fit primary models using
meta and/or metafor with REML + Hartung-Knapp defaults.
- In
06_analysis/03_models.R (L10-30: metagen(..., method.tau = "REML", hakn = TRUE))
- Assess heterogeneity (I2, Q, tau2), subgroup analyses, and meta-regression when applicable.
- In
06_analysis/04_subgroups_meta_regression.R
- Conduct sensitivity analyses and publication bias diagnostics.
- In
06_analysis/07_sensitivity.R
- In
06_analysis/08_bias.R
- Generate forest and funnel plots at 300 dpi.
- In
06_analysis/05_plots.R
- Write to
06_analysis/figures/*.png (png(..., res=300, width=3000, height=2400))
- Use
gtsummary to build manuscript-ready summary tables.
- In
06_analysis/06_tables.R (use gtsummary::tbl_summary())
- Export tables as PNG/HTML/DOCX via
gt + flextable for manuscript sync.
- In
06_analysis/07_export_tables.R
- Write to
06_analysis/tables/*.png, 06_analysis/tables/*.html, 06_analysis/tables/*.docx
- Summarize key results and decisions in
06_analysis/validation.md.
- Write to
06_analysis/validation.md
Resources
assets/r/ provides a scaffolded R workflow that maps to the standard steps.
references/r-meta-roadmap.md summarizes the expected analysis tasks.
Validation
- Reproduce key estimates from at least one study subset.
- Confirm that effect sizes match the extraction units and directionality.
Pipeline Navigation
| Step | Skill | Stage |
|---|
| Prev | /ma-data-extraction | 05 Data Extraction |
| Next | /ma-manuscript-quarto | 07 Manuscript Drafting |
| All | /ma-end-to-end | Full pipeline orchestration |