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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

A Reduced Bias Method Of Estimating Variance Components In Generalized Linear Mixed Models, Elizabeth A. Claassen May 2014

A Reduced Bias Method Of Estimating Variance Components In Generalized Linear Mixed Models, Elizabeth A. Claassen

Department of Statistics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Work

In small samples it is well known that the standard methods for estimating variance components in a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), pseudo-likelihood and maximum likelihood, yield estimates that are biased downward. An important consequence of this is that inferences on fixed effects will have inflated Type I error rates because their precision is overstated. We introduce a new method for estimating parameters in GLMMs that applies a Firth bias adjustment to the maximum likelihood-based GLMM estimating algorithm. We apply this technique to one- and two-treatment logistic regression models with a single random effect. We show simulation results that demonstrate …


New Statistical Methods For Analysis Of Historical Data From Wildlife Populations, Trevor Hefley Mar 2014

New Statistical Methods For Analysis Of Historical Data From Wildlife Populations, Trevor Hefley

Department of Statistics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Work

Wildlife biologists, many times with the help of ordinary citizens, have developed and maintained long-term datasets for monitoring the status of wildlife populations. These datasets can range from a collection of citizen-reported sightings of a rare species, to datasets collected by biologists using standardized methods. The commonality is that these datasets span a temporal and spatial scale that is beyond the scope of most scientific studies. Ensuring the continued persistence of wildlife populations requires predictions of the impact of human actions. Regardless if the predictions are quantitative or qualitative, the best we can do is use the past data to …