Defined term · Statistics and inference
Random-effects model
A pooling model assuming that true effects vary across studies and estimating their distribution. Produces wider intervals than a fixed-effect model and gives relatively more weight to small studies.
§1Random-effects model
§1.2Category
Statistics and inference — Terms describing how effects are estimated and how uncertainty is expressed.
§1.3Related terms
- Fixed-effect model — A pooling model assuming a single true effect common to all contributing studies. Appropriate only where that assumption is defensible.
- Heterogeneity — Variation in effect estimates across studies beyond that expected from chance. Quantified imperfectly by the I-squared statistic and assessed by inspection of the…
Compound Evidence Institute · CEI-GT-075 · https://compoundevidence.com/glossary/random-effects-model/ · retrieved 30 July 2026