Andrew Collins, PhD

Independent Research Advisor

Andrew Collins is an independent research advisor with extensive experience in systematic review methodology and quantitative evidence synthesis. He has assisted researchers with protocol development, literature screening, data extraction, and meta-analysis, helping them navigate each stage of the review process. Andrew is committed to promoting rigorous and transparent research practices that support evidence-based decision making.

Areas of focus

Systematic review methodology
Quantitative evidence synthesis
Meta-analysis
Protocol development
Data extraction

How the analysis is checked

Every guide and tool Andrew reviews follows the standard methods set out in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and in Borenstein, Hedges, Higgins, and Rothstein, Introduction to Meta-Analysis. The pooling behind our calculators is validated against the metafor package in R and statsmodels in Python, so the numbers line up with what a statistician reproduces by hand. You can read more about how we calculate and check every result.

Guides by Andrew Collins

June 16, 2026 · 7 minPrediction Intervals in Meta-AnalysisThe prediction interval shows where a new study’s true effect will land, a wider and more honest range than the confidence interval of the pooled estimate.Read guide June 9, 2026 · 8 minCochran's Q Test for HeterogeneityHow Cochran's Q test detects heterogeneity in a meta-analysis, how to read its p-value, and how it feeds the I-squared and tau-squared statistics.Read guide May 28, 2026 · 8 minHow to Read a Forest Plot, Step by StepA practical, element-by-element walkthrough of every part of a forest plot, from the study squares to the pooled summary diamond.Read guide May 12, 2026 · 9 minNetwork Meta-Analysis: A Practical GuideHow a network meta-analysis combines direct and indirect evidence to compare many treatments, plus the assumptions and pitfalls behind treatment rankings.Read guide

Need a methodologist on your review?

If you would rather have the analysis run and written up for you, tell us what you are working on and we will reply with a clear next step.

Get help with your analysis