On the analysis of very small samples of Gaussian repeated measurements: an alternative approach

Philip M. Westgate, Woodrow W. Burchett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The analysis of very small samples of Gaussian repeated measurements can be challenging. First, due to a very small number of independent subjects contributing outcomes over time, statistical power can be quite small. Second, nuisance covariance parameters must be appropriately accounted for in the analysis in order to maintain the nominal test size. However, available statistical strategies that ensure valid statistical inference may lack power, whereas more powerful methods may have the potential for inflated test sizes. Therefore, we explore an alternative approach to the analysis of very small samples of Gaussian repeated measurements, with the goal of maintaining valid inference while also improving statistical power relative to other valid methods. This approach uses generalized estimating equations with a bias-corrected empirical covariance matrix that accounts for all small-sample aspects of nuisance correlation parameter estimation in order to maintain valid inference. Furthermore, the approach utilizes correlation selection strategies with the goal of choosing the working structure that will result in the greatest power. In our study, we show that when accurate modeling of the nuisance correlation structure impacts the efficiency of regression parameter estimation, this method can improve power relative to existing methods that yield valid inference.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)958-970
Number of pages13
JournalStatistics in Medicine
Volume36
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Funding

We thank an anonymous associate editor and two reviewers for their constructive comments that resulted in the improvement of this manuscript. We also thank Dr. Richard J. Kryscio, Dr. Frederick A. Schmitt, and Dr. Erin Abner for allowing us to use data from the PREADViSE trial, which was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (R01 AG019241). This publication was supported by the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant UL1TR000117. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute on AgingR01AG019241
National Institute on Aging
National Center for Research Resources
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)UL1TR000117
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

    Keywords

    • correlation selection
    • generalized estimating equations
    • multivariate Gaussian linear model
    • power
    • test size

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Epidemiology
    • Statistics and Probability

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