Figure 4

Approximation by independent path decomposition versus net heat plot approach in the constructed examples after perturbing the direct estimates in a) of fluo:venl, in b) of fluo:venl and dulo:esci, and in c) of fluo:venl and fluo:sert (column red marked respectively) by inflating the corresponding OR by a factor of two. Left: Net heat plots in which the area of a gray square displays the contribution of the direct estimate of one design in the column to a network estimate in the row. The colours on the diagonal represent the inconsistency contribution of the corresponding design. The colours on the off-diagonal are associated with the change in inconsistency between direct and indirect evidence in a network estimate in the row after relaxing the consistency assumption for the effect of one design in the column. Blue colours indicate an increase and warm colours a decrease. Only rows and columns of the net heat plots are shown, where the maximal absolute entry exceeds or is equal one. The two contrasts of the three-armed studies are marked by ^∗. Right: Forest plots for the network estimate of comparison sert:venl based on the independent path decomposition of Figure 3a in the three constructed examples.