We have always chosen the author's preferred estimate in case they reported several estimates (for example, as robustness checks).
We restricted our core sample to the preferred estimate in each study for each country or region covered, based on the author's judgement (when absent, we use the usual statistic tests).
Our preferred estimate for the school attainment coefficient from the IV-GMM estimates, with all three life-cycle experiences included, is 0.09 SD in verbal skills for every additional grade, or approximately 0.30 SD in verbal skills for a 1 SD increase in school attainment.
We implemented alternatives to the NIOSH/NCI preferred estimates of REC using their general approach but making several of what we believe to be improvements to their approach.
Whenever data were provided with different adjustments in each study, we preferred estimates that adjusted for the Framingham risk score or the model with Framingham risk score variables; if none of these options was available, we preferred the model with the larger number of adjusting factors.
Where separate estimates were available for chewing tobacco and for snuff, results for chewing tobacco were used in the main meta-analyses, though alternative analyses preferring estimates for snuff were also carried out.
If the trend follows simple functions, then universal Kriging is used; otherwise, ordinary Kriging is preferred to estimate a parameter at ungauged locations.
Since analysis based on first-principle modeling is not accurate enough [4], identification methods are preferred to estimate the properties of the modes.
Hence, it is preferred to estimate the depth of bedrock as accurately as possible considering its implication on seismic hazard analysis (Bard 1995; Boore 2004; Nath et al. 2015).
Next, a prioritization method was applied to decide which route candidates are preferred by estimating five priority factors: binding site covalence, chemical similarity, thermodynamic favorability, pathway distance, and organism specificity.
The additional value of every question in the questionnaire needs to be critically judged and a pilot study is preferred to estimate the feasibility and burden for GPs and patients.
