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K K Lan

Publications and source records attributed to K K Lan.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Grouping and linear regression.

With a large number of observations, the method of grouping is often employed to provide simpler graphs or tables. When one investigates the relationship between two variables, one usually groups based on the magnitude of the independent variable, and then plots the dependent variable averages against independent variable averages to get a clearer graph. If grouping is based on the magnitude of the dependent variable, the plot of group means as indicated above does not appropriately describe the relationship of the dependent variable to the independent variable. These results are demonstrated theoretically for the special case of bivariate normality (and thus linear regression), but would be expected to be similar for other distribution assumptions. An example is given from an epidemiological study.

Blood Pressure↗

On the use of the logistic model in prospective studies.

We describe the usual statistical concepts and consequent appropriate simulations of a prospective study for the simple case of a single risk variable and an assumed logistic model. We examine the simulations of Lilienfeld and Pyne, and show that they are seriously flawed. Contrary to those authors' claims, the estimates of parameters by the Walker-Duncan technique are both accurate and reliable.

Biometry↗

Interim analysis: the alpha spending function approach.

Interim analysis of accumulating data in a clinical trial is now an established practice for ethical and scientific reasons. Repeatedly testing interim data can inflate false positive error rates if not handled appropriately. Group sequential methods are a commonly used frequentist approach to control this error rate. Motivated by experience of clinical trials, the alpha spending function is one way to implement group sequential boundaries that control the type I error rate while allowing flexibility in how many interim analyses are to be conducted and at what times. In this paper, we review the alpha spending function approach, and detail its applicability to a variety of commonly used statistical procedures, including survival and longitudinal methods.

Bias↗