Authors
Shinichi Nakagawa, Malgorzata Lagisz, Rose E O'Dea, Joanna Rutkowska, Yefeng Yang, Daniel WA Noble, Alistair M Senior
Publication date
2021/1
Journal
Research Synthesis Methods
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
4-12
Description
“Classic” forest plots show the effect sizes from individual studies and the aggregate effect from a meta‐analysis. However, in ecology and evolution, meta‐analyses routinely contain over 100 effect sizes, making the classic forest plot of limited use. We surveyed 102 meta‐analyses in ecology and evolution, finding that only 11% use the classic forest plot. Instead, most used a “forest‐like plot,” showing point estimates (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) from a series of subgroups or categories in a meta‐regression. We propose a modification of the forest‐like plot, which we name the “orchard plot.” Orchard plots, in addition to showing overall mean effects and CIs from meta‐analyses/regressions, also include 95% prediction intervals (PIs), and the individual effect sizes scaled by their precision. The PI allows the user and reader to see the range in which an effect size from a future study may be expected to fall. The …
Total citations
20202021202220232024218405327
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