Journal quality, effect size, and publication bias in meta-analysis

A simple, empirical method of detecting evidence of publication bias in meta-analyses is proposed, based on the relationship between the strength of the results in published studies and the quality of the journals in which they appear. In an illustration of its use, the method is applied to published meta-analyses of terrestrial plant competition, predation in streams, woody plant growth under elevated CO,, and marine nutrient enrichment experiments. Statistically significant associations of effect strength and journal quality were found in two of the four meta-analyses.