A funnel plot is a scatter plot used in meta-analysis to assess publication bias and small-study effects. It plots each study's estimated treatment effect on the horizontal axis against a measure of its precision (typically the standard error or inverse of the standard error) on the vertical axis. A symmetric inverted-funnel-shaped confidence interval is superimposed: in the absence of publication bias and heterogeneity, studies cluster within the funnel symmetrically; asymmetry indicates potential bias. The visualization persists through publication in systematic reviews, meta-analytic software packages (e.g. RevMan, Stata, R metafor), and methodological literature. [formal: funnel plot | substrate: mind | horizon: generations | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
funnel plot
A funnel plot is a scatter plot used in meta-analysis to assess publication bias and small-study effects. It plots each study's estimated treatment effect on the horizontal axis against a measure of its precision (typically the standard er…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made statistical visualization: a scatter plot used in meta-analysis that displays study-specific treatment effects against a measure of their precision (typically standard error or sample size), with a funnel-shaped confidence interval to visually assess publication bias and small-study effects.
Names and aliases
- funnel ploten · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrwtsiei01bpsoacfij1tjcbINSTANCE_OF →
TESTED INSTANCE_OF: a funnel plot IS a specific kind of scatter plot used in meta-analysis. It plots effect sizes against a measure of variance/precision, with confidence interval lines — the visual core is scattered points with error bars. A competent speaker would call a funnel plot 'a scatter plot of study effects.'
- cmrxjlaic03ensoaczntv7ptrINSTANCE_OF →
A funnel plot IS a specific kind of funnel chart — it is the graphical representation using a funnel shape to show values across stages. A competent speaker would call it a funnel chart.
- cms7wyk72004ph6s8d82lhwqlSERVES →
A funnel plot is designed to support reliability operations by visualizing statistical dispersion and outliers across process stages, enabling reliability engineers to assess variation and identify problems. The plot exists to further reliability's operation.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Aug 4, 2026, 5:42 AM UTC
- Content hash
- e74ab82a277ab2f323cb533fe279922b18b2916d1f1f238f8395663a37326b8a