Table 6 Summary of publication selection bias tests
Study type | Number of estimates (K) | Test resultsa | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Funnel asymmetry test (FAT) (H0: γ0 = 0) | Precision-effect test (PET) (H0: γ1 = 0) | Precision-effect estimate with standard error (PEESE) (H0: γ1 = 0)b | ||
All studies (Hypothesis H1) | 1472 | Rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.0885/− 0.0797) |
Target region (Hypothesis H2) | ||||
 Urban region | 919 | Rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.0838/− 0.0788) |
 Rural region | 135 | Rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.1464/− 0.1436) |
 Region unspecified | 418 | Rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.0963/− 0.0774) |
Target corporate sector (Hypothesis H3) | ||||
 Public sector | 24 | Not rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.0778/− 0.0715) |
 Private sector | 34 | Not rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.1293/− 0.1232) |
 Corporate sector unspecified | 1414 | Rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.0873/− 0.0715) |
Target period (Hypothesis H4) | ||||
 1990s or before | 315 | Not rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.0861/− 0.0706) |
 2000s | 689 | Rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.0827/− 0.0733) |
 2010s | 468 | Not rejected | Rejected | Rejected (− 0.1349/− 0.0922) |