Case–control studies with complex sampling

The use of complex sampling designs in population-based case–control studies is becoming more common, particularly for sampling the control population. This is prompted by all the usual cost and logistical benefits that are conferred by multistage sampling. Complex sampling has often been ignored in analysis but, with the advent of packages like SUDAAN, survey-weighted analyses that take account of the sample design can be carried out routinely. This paper explores this approach and more efficient alternatives, which can also be implemented by using readily available software.     

A likelihood ratio test for goodness‐of‐fit of recessive and dominant models for case–control studies

Testing goodness‐of‐fit of commonly used genetic models is of critical importance in many applications including association studies and testing for departure from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Case–control design has become widely used in population genetics and genetic epidemiology, thus it is of interest to develop powerful goodness‐of‐fit tests for genetic models using case–control data. This paper develops a likelihood ratio test (LRT) for testing recessive and dominant models for case–control studies. The LRT statistic has a closed‐form formula with a simple $\chi^{2}(1)$ null asymptotic distribution, thus its implementation is easy even for genome‐wide association studies. Moreover, it has the same power and optimality as when the disease prevalence is known in the population. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 41: 341–352; 2013 © 2013 Statistical Society of Canada     

News

U. S. National Income Series Revised—Congress Votes No on Censuses of Business and Manufactures—Britain Revises Living Cost Index-U. S. and U. K. Surveys Uncover Lacks in Statistical Training-Forthcoming Statistical Conferences     

Irregularities in X(Y) from Y(X) in linear calibration

Let X be an input measurement and Y the output reading of a calibrated instrument, with Y(X) as the calibration curve. Solving X(Y) projects an instrumental reading back onto the scale of measurements as an object of pivotal interest. The arrays of instrumental readings are projected in this manner in practice, yielding arrays of calibrated measurements, typically subject to errors of calibration. The effects of calibration errors on the properties of calibrated measurements are examined here under linear calibration. Irregularities arise as induced dependencies, inflated variances, non-standard distributions, inconsistent sample means, the underestimation of measurement variance, and other unintended consequences. On the other hand, conventional properties are seen to remain largely in place in the use of selected regression diagnostics and in one-way comparative experiments using calibrated data.     

The Planning Stage in Statistical Reasoning

An important step in the statistical problem-solving process is the selection of the appropriate statistical procedure for the real-world situation under analysis. A decision-tree term project has been found to be an effective teaching device to help MBA students understand this step. The project requires the students to construct a decision-tree structure, which, through a series of questions and responses, will lead from the statement of a statistical question to the appropriate sampling distribution to use in addressing the question.     

Reviews

Abstract

Elizabeth Parang reviews Reengineering the Library: Issues in Electronic Resources Management. Scott Johnson reviews Academic Library Management: Case Studies.     

A Weighting Approach for GEE Analysis with Missing Data

We propose a new weighting (WT) method to handle missing categorical outcomes in longitudinal data analysis using generalized estimating equations (GEE). The proposed WT provides a valid GEE estimator when the data are missing at random (MAR), and has more stable weights and shows advantage in efficiency compared to the inverse probability weighing method in the presence of small observation probabilities. The WT estimator is similar to the stabilized weighting (SWT) estimator under mild conditions, but it is more stable and efficient than SWT when the associations of the outcome with the observation probabilities and the covariate are strong.     

Marginal homogeneity,symmetry, and independence

A contingency table of the mc form provides a convenient summary of data when c individuals in a matched set9 each belonging to a different one of c classifications, are identified as belonging to one of m categories, A study in which matched sets (c=3) of 1 case, 1 hospital control, and 1 neighborhood control are classified into one of m=4 occupational categories would be an example, Independence in the cxm tables for each of the matched sets implies symmetry in the summary mc table with consequent marginal homogeneity. Adaptation of the Mantel-Haenszel procedure for testing independence to the case of many cxm tables so as to yield a chi square with (cl)(ml) degrees of freedom (DF) provides a test of marginal homogeneity in the summary mc table. This can be viewed as a test of symmetry directed against alternatives which would make for marginal inhomogeneity and can differ     

陈子展先生与近代文学研究——试析他的两部近代文学史

本着重阐述陈子展先生在中国近代学研究方面的成就与贡献。陈子展先生对近代学的研究主要体现于他的两部作《中国近代学之变迁》《最近三十年中国学史》,在这两部作中,他提出了在前人研究基础上的属于他自己独立思考的见解,这些见解对1898年至1928年这30年间的近代学发展做了有价值的分析与总结。两部作被学术界公认为在中国近代学研究史上具有早期开创性意义,至今不失其学术价值。