This is a generic function to perform a Cochran Q test of (residual) heterogeneity. The function invokes particular methods which depend on the class of the first argument. Currently, specific methods exist for several meta-analytical models in various packages: qtest.mixmeta, qtest.mvmeta, and qtest.dosresmeta.
qtest(object, …)an object for which the test is desired
further arguments passed to specific methods.
Returned values depend on the specific class. Usually, the results of the test.
The test assesses the null hypothesis that the variability in the distribution of the outcomes is explained only in terms of within-unit estimation errors. This corresponds to a test on the hypotesis that there is no variation attributable to random-effects terms.
Cochran WG (1950). The comparison of percentages in matched samples". Biometrika. 37(3/4):256--266.
Sera F, Armstrong B, Blangiardo M, Gasparrini A (2019). An extended mixed-effects framework for meta-analysis.Statistics in Medicine. 2019;38(29):5429-5444. [Freely available here].
Specific methods for various classes: qtest.mixmeta, qtest.mvmeta, and qtest.dosresmeta.