Missing by Design: Planned Missing-Data Designs in Social Science Cover Image

Missing by Design: Planned Missing-Data Designs in Social Science
Missing by Design: Planned Missing-Data Designs in Social Science

Author(s): Artur Pokropek
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: missing-data; research design; multiple imputation; maximum likelihood; Monte Carlo simulations; statistical power

Summary/Abstract: This article presents research designs that employ modern statistical tools to optimize costs and precision of research along with some additional methodological advantages. In planned missing-data designs some parts of information about respondent are purposely not collected. This gives fl exibility and opportunity to explore a broad range of solutions with considerably lower cost. Modern statistical tools for coping with missing-data, namely multiple imputation (MI) and maximum likelihood estimation with missing data (ML) are presented. Several missing-data designs are introduced and assessed by Monte Carlo simulation studies. Designs particularly useful in surveys, longitudinal analysis and measurement applications are showed and tested in terms of statistical power and bias reduction. Article shows advantages, opportunities and problems connected with missingdata designs and their application in social science researches.

  • Issue Year: 2011
  • Issue No: 20
  • Page Range: 81-105
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: English