The Random-Effect Model of Bivariate Meta-Analysis Based on the Difference Mean

Abstract

In this paper, we establish the random-effect model of bivariate meta-analysis based on the difference mean. Under the assumption of the multilevel normal distribution of the difference mean, we obtain the maximum likelihood estimator ˆML μ of the difference mean by the method of maximum likelihood estimate. We conclude that the maximum likelihood estimator ˆ ML μ of the difference mean is unbiased for the difference mean effect μ . In addition, we get the corresponding covariance matrix and the ( ) 1 100% −α confidence interval for the difference mean effect μ .