Decomposing three dimensional contingency tables

A simple box-like diagram makes the task of teaching or analyzing three dimensional contingency tables much easier. Little is to be gained using the log-linear model and iterative procedures, as all but one hypothesis can be tested and necessary statistics calculated with a hand-held electronic calculator and without iterations.     

N the theory of randomized responses to two sensitive questions

This paper sets forth a stochastic model which can be applied to randomized response designs wherein more than one question is sensitive of stigmatizing. Using three specific designs applied to a pair of stigmatizing or sensitive traits leading to two by two contingency tables, it is proved that if the two traits are statistically independent then the responses are also and conversely. The converse statement gives the support we need for inference to be made on the traits based on the randomized responses.     

"Anything Can Happen With Police Around": Urban Youth Evaluate Strategies of Surveillance in Public Places

In order to document urban youth experiences of adults in positions of public authority, including police, educators, social workers and guards, a broad based street survey of 911 New York City-based urban youth was conducted in which youth, stratified by race, ethnicity, gender and borough, were asked about their experiences with, attitudes toward, and trust of adult surveillance in communities and in schools. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 36 youth who have experienced serious, adverse interactions with police, guards, or educators. Findings suggest that urban youth, overall, express a strong sense of betrayal by adults and report feeling mistrusted by adults, with young men of color most likely to report these perceptions.     

Urban Form,Heart Disease,and Geography: A Case Study in Composite Index Formation and Bayesian Spatial Modeling

Recent studies indicate a relationship between measures of urban form as applied to urban and suburban areas, and obesity, a risk factor for heart disease. Measures of urban form for exurban and rural areas are considerably scarce; such measures could prove useful in measuring relationships between urban form and both mortality and morbidity in such areas. In modeling area-level mortality, geographic relationships between counties warrant consideration because geographically adjacent areas tend to have more in common than areas farther from each other. We modify county-level indices of urban form found in the literature so that they can be applied to exurban and rural counties. We then use these indices in a Bayesian spatial model that accounts for spatial autocorrelation to determine if there is a relationship between such measures and cardiovascular disease mortality for white males age 35 and older for the time period 1999–2001. Issues related to the formation and usefulness of the indices, and issues related to the spatial model, are discussed. Maps of observed and expected relative risk of mortality are presented. Jimmie Givens retired from his service.     

Opportunity for Adult Bonding/Meaningful Neighborhood Roles and Life-Satisfaction among USA Middle School Students

This study investigated the relationship between adolescent life- satisfaction and bonding to adults/developing meaningful roles in the neighborhood within a pilot study of slightly modified version of the CDC Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (MSYRBS) in a southern state in the USA. Overall, 43% of students reported that they were satisfied with their lives overall, and 34% reported that they experienced positive adult relationships and meaningful roles in their neighborhoods. After adjusting for socioeconomic status and family structure, differential associations were found between adolescent life satisfaction and bonding to adults/developing meaningful roles. Opportunities for adult bonding and meaningful roles in the neighborhood related to increased life satisfaction more strongly for Caucasian students than African-American students. Post-Hoc analyses suggest that the explanation for these differential relationships may involve socioeconomic status. *This research was conducted via the South Carolina Middle School Youth Risk Behaviour Survey funded by the CDC/Legacy Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control, Columbia, South Carolina.