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Meta-Analyses of Partial Correlations Are Biased: Detection and Solutions

Author

Listed:
  • T. D. Stanley

    (Department of Economics, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.)

  • Hristos Doucouliagos

    (Department of Economics, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.)

  • Tomas Havranek

    (Institute of Economic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic & Centre for Economic Policy Research, London)

Abstract

We demonstrate that all meta-analyses of partial correlations are biased, and yet hundreds of meta-analyses of partial correlation coefficients (PCC) are conducted each year widely across economics, business, education, psychology, and medical research. To address these biases, we offer a new weighted average, UWLS+3. UWLS+3 is the unrestricted weighted least squares weighted average that makes an adjustment to the degrees of freedom that are used to calculate partial correlations and, by doing so, renders trivial any remaining meta-analysis bias. Our simulations also reveal that these meta-analysis biases are small-sample biases (n

Suggested Citation

  • T. D. Stanley & Hristos Doucouliagos & Tomas Havranek, 2023. "Meta-Analyses of Partial Correlations Are Biased: Detection and Solutions," Working Papers IES 2023/17, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, revised May 2023.
    • Handle: RePEc:fau:wpaper:wp2023_17
    as

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    File URL: https://ies.fsv.cuni.cz/en/veda-vyzkum/working-papers/6768
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rockers, Peter C. & Røttingen, John-Arne & Shemilt, Ian & Tugwell, Peter & Bärnighausen, Till, 2015. "Inclusion of quasi-experimental studies in systematic reviews of health systems research," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(4), pages 511-521.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    partial correlation coefficients; meta-analysis; bias; small sample;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods

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