Meta-analysis of Binary Data Using Profile Likelihood

! The book is very focused on the methods the authors have developed for meta-analysis. It includes a lot of technical details for solving likelihood equations. The advanced key method is based on nonparametric mixing distributions and the question how many mixing components do we have is the crucial one. ! A positive aspect is the development of the software tool. The software CAMAP can be downloaded with no costs from the website: http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~sns05dab/Software.html ! --ISCB News #49, June 2010 The authors have succeeded in demonstrating recent developments and the utility of statistical tools for MAIPD-type meta-analysis. ! a strong background in mathematics is not needed. The material that is covered in this book can be a part of an advanced biostatistics course. The book should be accessible and useful to graduate students in biostatistics and biostatisticians working in theory as well as in applied areas. The book is well worth recommending for purchase by a library. --Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A, 2010, 173! I am not aware of a more complete source for this topic. The authors' presentation of the core ideas behind the derivation and use of PML estimates is accessible to anyone familiar with standard likelihood-based estimation. The many good examples facilitate intelligent application of these ideas, and the described software makes implementation simple. --Eloise Kaizar, Department of Statistics, Ohio State University, Biometrics, June 2009