Analysis and Sensitivity Analysis for Missing Data

Dr. Geert Molenberghs

Aim of Course:

This course covers the modeling and analysis of incomplete multivariate or longitudinal data - data with records for which some, but not all observations are missing. Many analysis methods cannot handle the inclusion of such records, but omitting these records discards valuable information. There are a range of techniques to handle this situation, and this course goes beyond the methods covered in the course "Missing Data." In this course, you will learn about treatments that apply when data are missing, but not at random. This is a very common situation, and when it occurs, the classic models do not apply. This course describes how "Missing at Random" counterpart models may be identified and assessed for their suitability for the "Missing Not at Random" situation.

Who Should Take This Course:

Statistical analysts and consultants who develop and apply statistical models that must be used in situations where data are incomplete, and the simpler models may not be applicable.

For those enrolled in a Program of Advanced Statistical Studies, this is a required or elective course in the following Programs:

• Biostatistics (epidemiology) - elective
• Biostatistics (controlled trials) - elective
• Statistics for Social Sciences - elective

Course Program:

The course is structured as follows:

The Instructor:

Dr. Geert Molenberghs is Professor of Biostatistics at Universiteit Hasselt and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium. He received the B.S. degree in mathematics (1988) and a Ph.D. in biostatistics (1993) from Universiteit Antwerpen. He published on surrogate markers in clinical trials, and on categorical, longitudinal, and incomplete data. He was Joint Editor of Applied Statistics (2001-2004) and Co-Editor of Biometrics (2007-2009). He was President of the International Biometric Society (2004-2005), received the Guy Medal in Bronze from the Royal Statistical Society and the Myrto Lefkopoulou award from the Harvard School of Public Health. Geert Molenberghs is founding director of the Center for Statistics. He is also the director of the Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and statistical Bioinformatics (I-BioStat). Jointly with Geert Verbeke, Mike Kenward, Tomasz Burzykowski, Marc Buyse, and Marc Aerts, he authored books on longitudinal and incomplete data, and on surrogate marker evaluation.

Organization of the Course:

The course takes place over the internet, at statistics.com. During each course week, you participate at times of your own choosing - there are no set times when you must be online. Course participants will be given access to a private discussion board. In class discussions led by the instructor, you can post questions, seek clarification, and interact with your fellow students and the instructor. The course is scheduled to take place over 4 weeks, and typically requires 15 hours per week. At the beginning of each week, you receive the relevant material, in addition to answers to exercises from the previous session. During the week, you are expected to go over the course materials and work through exercises. Discussion among participants is encouraged. The instructor will provide answers and comments.

Certificates and Grades:

You may be interested only in learning the material presented, and not be concerned with grades or certificates. Or you may be enrolled in a statistics.com Program in Advanced Statistical Studies that requires demonstration of proficiency in the subject, in which case your work will be assessed for purposes of issuing a grade. Or you may require only a "Certificate of Course Completion," along with professional development credit in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEU's). As you begin the class, you will be asked to specify your category.

Credit:

This course offers continuing education units (CEU's). For those successfully completing the course (generally this means marks of 50% or better on the homework), 5.0 CEU's and a certificate will be issued by statistics.com, upon request.

Dates:

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18, 2011
Click here to be notified of future course offerings.

Participants gain access to the online materials on the first day of the course, and typically spend about 15 hours per week (at their convenience). You retain full access to course materials, including discussion board, for two weeks after the course closing date.

Level:

advanced

Prerequisite:

The equivalent of Introduction to Statistics 1: Inference for a Single Variable, and Introduction to Statistics 2: Working with Bivariate Data (and, if necessary before these courses, Introduction to Statistics for Beginners or Survey of Statistics for Beginners).

For additional information about course prerequisites, click here. Participants should also be familiar with the material covered in "Missing Data," and should have facility with statistical modeling methods.

Course Text:

Missing Data in Clinical Studies by Geert Molenberghs and Mike Kenward which can be ordered directly from Wiley here. Wiley typically offers statistics.com customers up to 15% discount on this book (and all other statistics titles): enter the code aff15 in the Promotion Code field when prompted during checkout and click the Apply Discount button. (If you are located in Asia, the web procedure for your location may not accept this discount -- try calling your regional Wiley representative.)

Software:

While the course notes and textbook use SAS-based illustrations, the course is also effective for people not using SAS, because concepts and applications are presented in a software-free fashion. For exercises, annotated output will be provided.

Registration:

Register Online - $499
Register Online (academic) - $399 (you must be affiliated with a college, university or high school)

Add $50 service fee if you require a prior invoice, or if you need to submit a purchase order or voucher, pay by wire transfer or EFT, or refund and reprocess a prior payment. Please use this printed registration form, for these and other special orders.

Note: Courses may fill up at any time and registrations are processed in the order in which they are received. Your registration will be confirmed for the first available course date, unless you specify otherwise.

© statistics.com 2004-2010

Privacy Policy | Contact Us