Case Deletion

Missing Data: Criteria for Choosing an Effective Approach

May 20th, 2009 by

In choosing an approach to missing data, there are a number of things to consider.  But you need to keep in mind what you’re aiming for before you can even consider which approach to take.

There are three criteria we’re aiming for with any missing data technique:

1. Unbiased parameter estimates:  Whether you’re estimating means, regressions, or odds ratios, you want your parameter estimates to be accurate representations of the actual population parameters.  In statistical terms, that means the estimates should be unbiased.  If all the (more…)