TimelyScholarFree Tools › Doi Plot & LFK Index
Draw a Doi plot and calculate the Luis Furuya-Kanamori (LFK) index to assess asymmetry that may indicate publication or other small-study bias.
FreeNo account neededYour data stays in your browser
| LFK index | 2.22major asymmetry |
|---|---|
| Studies | 37 |
An LFK index within ±1 indicates no asymmetry, beyond ±1 up to ±2 minor asymmetry, and beyond ±2 major asymmetry. A symmetrical Doi plot looks like an inverted V with its tip near the most precise studies. Results match metasens::lfkindex.
Copy the columns from Excel or Google Sheets, with names in the first row, or load the example.
Estimates, tests and the figure update instantly in your browser.
Download the figure (SVG or PNG) and copy a results sentence.
The Doi plot replaces the funnel plot's scatter with a curve: each study's effect size is plotted against the absolute value of its normal quantile (|Z-score|), so the most precise studies sit at the tip. Without asymmetry the plot looks like a symmetrical inverted V.
The LFK index quantifies how far the two limbs differ in area. Values within ±1 indicate no asymmetry, beyond ±1 minor asymmetry and beyond ±2 major asymmetry. Asymmetry has causes other than publication bias, including genuine heterogeneity.
No. It is a descriptive measure with no p-value; use it alongside the plot and your knowledge of the studies.