Weighting for unequal selection probabilities in multilevel models

@article{pfef:skin:holm:gold:rasb:1998, abstract = {When multilevel models are estimated from survey data derived using multistage sampling, unequal selection probabilities at any stage of sampling may induce bias in standard estimators, unless the sources of the unequal probabilities are fully controlled for in the covariates. This paper proposes alternative ways of weighting the estimation of a two-level model by using the reciprocals of the selection probabilities at each stage of sampling. Consistent estimators are obtained when both the sample number of level 2 units and the sample number of level 1 units within sampled level 2 units increase. Scaling of the weights is proposed to improve the properties of the estimators and to simplify computation. Variance estimators are also proposed. In a limited simulation study the scaled weighted estimators are found to perform well, although non-negligible bias starts to arise for informative designs when the sample number of level 1 units becomes small. The variance estimators perform extremely well. The procedures are illustrated using data from the survey of psychiatric morbidity.}, author = {Pfeffermann, D. and Skinner, C. J. and Holmes, D. J. and Goldstein, H. and Rasbash, J. }, citeulike-article-id = {711637}, doi = {10.1111/1467-9868.00106}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series B (Statistical Methodology)}, keywords = {mixed-model}, number = {1}, pages = {23--40}, posted-at = {2007-06-30 08:11:31}, priority = {2}, series = {B}, title = {Weighting for unequal selection probabilities in multilevel models}, url = {http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-9868.00106}, volume = {60}, year = {1998} }

TY - JOUR ID - pfef:skin:holm:gold:rasb:1998 L3 - citeulike-article-id:711637 TI - Weighting for unequal selection probabilities in multilevel models SE - B JF - Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series B (Statistical Methodology) VL - 60 IS - 1 SP - 23 EP - 40 N2 - When multilevel models are estimated from survey data derived using multistage sampling, unequal selection probabilities at any stage of sampling may induce bias in standard estimators, unless the sources of the unequal probabilities are fully controlled for in the covariates. This paper proposes alternative ways of weighting the estimation of a two-level model by using the reciprocals of the selection probabilities at each stage of sampling. Consistent estimators are obtained when both the sample number of level 2 units and the sample number of level 1 units within sampled level 2 units increase. Scaling of the weights is proposed to improve the properties of the estimators and to simplify computation. Variance estimators are also proposed. In a limited simulation study the scaled weighted estimators are found to perform well, although non-negligible bias starts to arise for informative designs when the sample number of level 1 units becomes small. The variance estimators perform extremely well. The procedures are illustrated using data from the survey of psychiatric morbidity. KW - mixed-model AU - Pfeffermann, D AU - Skinner, CJ AU - Holmes, DJ AU - Goldstein, H AU - Rasbash, J PY - 1998/// UR - http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-9868.00106 ER -