# testing the difference between two meta-analytic effect-sizes

I would like to know if it is possible to statistically test for difference between effect sizes (Hedges g in this case)

For example, let's say I have run a random effects meta-analysis on $20$ studies. In $10$ of these studies the treatment is solely on women and in $10$ the treatment is solely on men. Subgroup analyses show that the summary effect size for women is $g = 0.7,\, 95\% \text{ CI } [0.65-0.75]$ and for men it is $g = 0.6 \,, 95\% \text{ CI } [0.55-0.65 ]$.

Is there a valid way to test if the effect is stronger in women compared to men?

• You could certainly bootstrap. I don't know if there is another way. – Peter Flom - Reinstate Monica May 4 '17 at 12:42
• The answer is yes, it is called meta-regression. Do you want to do some research on that and then edit your post if you cannot achieve what you desire? – mdewey May 4 '17 at 19:21
• If you are using R, see here: metafor-project.org/doku.php/… You can also easily compute the Wald-type test by hand. – Wolfgang May 4 '17 at 20:16