Meta Analysis Options

Display

Specifies which items of output are to be displayed in the Output Window.

Estimates	The estimates from the individual trials and the combined estimates, with standard errors and confidence intervals
Overall test	Overall tests using the combined estimates
Heterogeneity	Test for heterogeneity of the estimates across trials
Monitoring	Monitoring information from the estimation when using maximum likelihood, maximum REML likelihood or REML.

Graphics

Specifies the plots to be displayed.

Confidence Plot	Plot of the individual and combined estimates, and their confidence intervals
Galbraith Plot	Plot of the standardized estimates against their precision i.e. the reciprocal of the standard error (also known as a radial plot)

Confidence Limit (%)

Allows you to control the confidence limit to use for the confidence intervals. The limit is expressed as a percentage and must be in the range 0-100.

Method for calculating random estimate confidence interval

Specifies how to calculate the confidence interval for a random estimate formed by either maximum likelihood or REML. You can select either profile likelihood or Normal approximation.

Type of test for overall probability values

Controls the type of test to use for the overall probability values. You can select either greater than, less than or two-sided.

Method to form combined estimates

The method to use to form the combined estimates formed assuming that the estimates are random.

Maximum likelihood	Estimates the variance component of the random effects using maximum likelihood
Maximum REML likelihood	Estimates the variance component of the random effects by maximizing the REML likelihood
Moments	Estimates the variance component of the random effects using the method of moments
REML	Estimates the variance component of the random effects using REML

The maximum REML likelihood setting is based on the same criterion as the REML setting, but it programs the maximization explicitly, in a FOR loop. It thus provides an alternative to use if the REML experiences convergence problems.

Maximum number of iterations

This specifies the maximum number of iterations to use with maximum likelihood and maximum REML likelihood (default 100).

Tolerance

Specifies the convergence criterion (default 10^-6).

Action Buttons

OK	Save the option settings and close the dialog.
Cancel	Close the dialog without making any changes.
Defaults	Reset the options to their default settings.