{
  "name": "Minimum number of studies Cochrane Handbook gives for common meta-analysis procedures",
  "description": "Study-count thresholds stated in Cochrane Handbook chapters 10 and 13 for procedures that are unreliable in small meta-analyses, compiled from the sections cited in each row.",
  "page": "https://casrai.org/guides/how-to-perform-meta-analysis",
  "publisher": "CASRAI",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "dateModified": "2026-11-13T19:26:18Z",
  "temporalCoverage": null,
  "spatialCoverage": null,
  "columns": [
    {
      "name": "Procedure",
      "unit": "",
      "description": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "Minimum studies",
      "unit": "studies",
      "description": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "Handbook section",
      "unit": "",
      "description": ""
    }
  ],
  "rows": [
    {
      "Procedure": "Test for funnel plot asymmetry",
      "Minimum studies": 10,
      "Handbook section": "13.3.4.4"
    },
    {
      "Procedure": "Meta-regression (per characteristic modelled)",
      "Minimum studies": 10,
      "Handbook section": "10.11.4, 10.11.5.1"
    },
    {
      "Procedure": "Prediction interval (encouraged, with no funnel asymmetry; approximate)",
      "Minimum studies": 5,
      "Handbook section": "10.10.4.2-10.10.4.3"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Cochrane Handbook chapter 10",
      "url": "https://www.cochrane.org/authors/handbooks-and-manuals/handbook/current/chapter-10",
      "accessed": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "title": "Cochrane Handbook chapter 13",
      "url": "https://www.cochrane.org/authors/handbooks-and-manuals/handbook/current/chapter-13",
      "accessed": "2026-11-12"
    }
  ]
}