A SAS macro for statistical power calculations in meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Statistics
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Statistical power is a key consideration in primary research design.
• However, statistical power is frequently neglected in the context of meta-analysis.
• This oversight can impact the reliability and interpretation of meta-analytic findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide background and guidelines for conducting statistical power analysis in meta-analysis.
• To introduce a SAS macro for calculating statistical power based on established methods.
• To illustrate the application of power analysis in meta-analysis through practical examples.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on statistical power in meta-analysis.
• Development and presentation of a SAS macro for power calculations.
• Demonstration of the macro's utility with detailed input and output examples.

Main Results:

• Guidelines and procedures for performing power analysis in meta-analysis are presented.
• A functional SAS macro is provided for calculating statistical power.
• Examples showcase the practical implementation and interpretation of power analysis results.

Conclusions:

• Integrating statistical power analysis into meta-analysis is essential for robust research.
• The provided SAS macro and guidelines facilitate the application of power analysis.
• This approach enhances the validity and interpretability of meta-analytic evidence.