In statistics, a Galbraith plot (also known as Galbraith's radial plot or just radial plot) is one way of displaying several estimates of the same quantity that have different standard errors.[1]
A Galbraith plot is produced by first calculating the standardized estimates or z-statistics by dividing each estimate by its standard error (SE). The Galbraith plot is then a scatter plot of each z-statistic (vertical axis) against 1/SE (horizontal axis). Larger studies (with smaller SE and larger 1/SE) will be observed to aggregate away from the origin.[2]
Galbraith plots are available within the metafor package in R, along with various other diagnostic and summary plots.
MIX 2.0 Software to perform meta-analysis and create Galbraith plots in Excel.
RadialPlotter Java application for fission track, luminescence and other radial plots from P. Vermeesch.
RadialPlotter() function within the R package 'numOSL' from Peng Jun for statistical age models analysis in optically stimulated luminescence dating.
plot_RadialPlot() function within the R package 'Luminescence' to produce Galbraith plots.
Further reading
Galbraith, R.F., 1990. The radial plot: Graphical assessment of spread in ages. International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation. Part D. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements, 17 (3), pp. 207–214. doi:10.1016/1359-0189(90)90036-W.
Galbraith, R. & Green, P., 1990. Estimating the component ages in a finite mixture. International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation. Part D. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements, 17 (3), pp. 197–206. doi:10.1016/1359-0189(90)90035-V
Galbraith, R.F. & Laslett, G.M., 1993. Statistical models for mixed fission track ages. Nuclear Tracks And Radiation Measurements, 21 (4), pp. 459–470. doi:10.1016/1359-0189(93)90185-C
Galbraith, R.F., 2010. On plotting OSL equivalent doses. Ancient TL, 28 (1), pp. 1–10. [1]
Galbraith, R.F. & Roberts, R.G., 2012. Statistical aspects of equivalent dose and error calculation and display in OSL dating: An overview and some recommendations. Quaternary Geochronology, 11, pp. 1–27. doi:10.1016/j.quageo.2012.04.020