BIAS Subcommand (META CONTINUOUS command)

The META CONTINUOUS command calls the meta-analysis procedure with continuous outcomes and raw effect size data. The optional BIAS subcommand accesses the publication bias by conducting the EGGER’s regression-based test.

COVARIATES

The optional keyword specifies the variables that are treated as covariates. Multiple variables are allowed.

FACTORS

The optional keyword specifies the variables that are treated as factors. Multiple variables are allowed.

INTERCEPT

The optional keyword controls the intercept in the regression based test. TRUE is the default setting by default, which includes the intercept term. FALSE excludes the intercept term.

MULTIPLICATIVE

The optional keyword controls the multiplicative model setting. The process is available when /INFERENCE MODEL = FIXED, and is otherwise ignored. FALSE is the default setting, which does not include the dispersion parameter. TRUE introduces the multiplicative dispersion parameter to the analysis.

DISTRIBUTION

The optional keyword controls the distribution used in the regression-based tests. T is the default setting, which estimates the statistics based on the t distribution. When NORMAL is specified, the statistics are estimated based on the normal distribution. The process is available when /INFERENCE ADJUSTSE = NONE, and is otherwise ignored.