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Summer School in Longitudinal Data Analysis and Missing Data, University of Bologna 4-8 June 2007

  • 1.  Summer School in Longitudinal Data Analysis and Missing Data, University of Bologna 4-8 June 2007

    Posted 03-30-2007 11:48
    Dear Colleagues,

    We would like to draw your attention to the attached Call for
    Applications to the *Bologna Summer School* in *Longitudinal Data
    Analysis and Missing Data* taught by Prof. *Paul Allison* (University of
    Pennsylvania), one of the world's leading authorities in this field.

    The School, now in its 3^rd edition, will take place from the 4^th till
    the 8^th of June in Bologna and is open for application to highly
    motivated PhD students/post docs and young researchers from around the
    world. Program and application details follow below.

    Thank you

    Best wishes,

    Simone Ferriani
    Raffaele Corrado
    >
    *2007 Summer School in Longitudinal Data Analysis and Missing Data*

    *taught by Prof. Paul D. Allison *

    * *

    *organized by*

    *Management Department *

    *University of Bologna*

    *Bologna, June 4-8, 2007*

    * *

    *School Objectives*

    The course will introduce statistical methods and techniques required
    for the analysis of longitudinal data and for managing missing data
    problems. In the first three days of the school participants will learn
    how to apply methods for data which varies both across units and over
    time; these include models for “panel” data, “time-series
    cross-sectional” data, and the like. Topics will include fixed– and
    random–effects models, GLS–based approaches to panel data, GEE models,
    random coefficient models and dynamic models with lagged dependent
    variables. Linear, logistic as well as count data models will be
    covered. The last two days will be devoted to methods and techniques for
    handling missing data. Participants will learn how to apply
    state-of-the-art maximum likelihood and multiple imputation techniques
    in order to address problems that cannot be reliably solved with
    traditional approaches like listwise deletion or regression imputation.
    These new methods for handling missing data have been around for at
    least a decade, but have only become practical in the last few years
    with the introduction of widely available and user friendly software.
    While underlying theory will be thoroughly discussed, the greatest
    emphasis will be on application and interpretation of models and results
    (see full program for further details). Participants are therefore
    strongly encouraged to bring their own datasets for analysis. The
    computer statistical packages SAS and AMOS will be used extensively for
    data analysis.

    *Instructor*

    Paul Allison is Professor and Chair of Sociology at the University of
    Pennsylvania, where he teaches graduate methods and statistics. He is
    widely recognized as an extraordinarily effective teacher of statistical
    methods who can reach students with highly diverse backgrounds and
    expertise. Allison is the author of many statistical books sold
    worldwide such as /Fixed Effects Regression Methods for Longitudinal
    Data Using SAS/ (SAS Institute 2005), /Missing Data/ (Sage 2001),
    /Logistic Regression Using SAS®: Theory and Application/ (SAS Institute
    1999), /Multiple Regression: A Primer/ (Pine Forge 1999), /Survival
    Analysis Using SAS®: A Practical Guide/ (SAS Institute 1995), /Event
    History Analysis/ (Sage 1984), and numerous articles on regression
    analysis, log-linear analysis, logit analysis, latent variable models,
    missing data, and inequality measures. A former Guggenheim Fellow, he is
    also on the editorial board of Sociological Methods and Research. In
    2001 he received the Paul Lazarsfeld Memorial Award for Distinguished
    Contributions to Sociological Methodology.

    *Prerequisites*

    Participants should enter this workshop with an active working knowledge
    of the topics covered in a standard course in /Regression Analysis./ A
    familiarity with the basic chi-square test for two-way contingency
    tables and elementary regression and ANOVA is also presumed.

    *Location, format, materials*

    The 5 day course will be held at Villa Guastavillani,
    (http://www.almaweb.unibo.it/about_alma.html), a wonderful 16^th century
    Villa located on the hills of Bologna.

    Here is a typical day's schedule:

    9-11 Lecture

    11-12:30 Supervised computing

    12:30-1:30 Lunch break

    1:30-3:30 Lecture

    3:30-5:30 Computing and consulting

    Participants will receive a 100-page manual containing detailed lecture
    notes (with equations and graphics), examples of computer printout, and
    many other useful features. This document frees participants from the
    distracting task of note taking. Participants may also want to refer to
    Professor Allison's books, /Fixed Effects Regression Methods for
    Longitudinal Data Using SAS/ (SAS Institute 2005) and /Missing Data/
    (Sage 2001). The books are optional.

    *Application procedure *

    Deadline for applications is May 15^th 2007. A complete application
    package should include the following items:

    · A CV indicating nationality, date and place of birth, current
    affiliation and position.

    · Doctoral students are required to specify the title of the doctoral
    program and the year in which they are currently enrolled.

    · A statement (no longer than 1 page) that describes (i) the current
    research activities of the applicant and (ii) his/her broad research
    interests.

    All applications will be accepted up to the limit of 20. In case of more
    than 20 applications the following criteria will be used for selection:
    (1) preference for academic researchers in social sciences; (2)
    preference for PhD students and junior researchers with a basic training
    in statistics; (3) relevance of the School to the applicant’s research
    program; (4) date of application. Applicants selected out in the first
    step of the process will be included in a waiting list and possibly
    accepted later. Applications should be sent exclusively to the following
    address: bolognaschool@gmail.com <mailto:bolognaschool@gmail.com> The
    School is coordinated by Raffaele Corrado (raffaele.corrado@unibo.it
    <mailto:raffaele.corrado@unibo.it>) and Simone Ferriani
    (simone.ferriani@unibo.it <mailto:simone.ferriani@unibo.it>).

    *Registration*

    Registration fee is *Euro 450*. The money will be used to cover daily
    lunch catering services, prepare the course material, purchase the SAS
    licenses. Selected participants will receive details on the payment
    procedure. Registration will be confirmed as soon as the payment is
    received. Cancellation less than 2 weeks prior to the workshop is
    subject to a Euro 150 late withdrawal fee. Participants are expected to
    make their own arrangements for housing. Special discounted rates are
    available through the Management Department.//



    *COURSE PROGRAM
    *

    *Longitudinal Data Analysis*

    *A Course on Regression Methods for Panel Data (3 Days)*

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------


    *Course Outline*

    1. Opportunities and challenges of panel data.

    a. Data requirements

    b. Control for unobservables

    c. Determining causal order

    d. Problem of dependence

    e. Software considerations

    2. Linear models

    a. Robust standard errors

    b. Random effects models

    c. Fixed effects models

    d. Hybrid models

    3. Logistic regression models

    a. Robust standard errors

    b. Subject-specific vs. population averaged methods

    c. Random effects models

    d. Fixed effects models

    e. Hybrid models

    4. Count data models

    a. Poisson models

    b. Negative binomial models

    c. Fixed and random effects

    5. Linear structural equation models

    a. Fixed and random effects in the SEM context

    b. Models for reciprocal causation with lagged effects

    *MISSING DATA *

    *A Course on Modern Methods for Handling Missing Data (2 Days)*

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Conventional methods for missing data, like listwise deletion or
    regression imputation, are prone to three serious problems:

    * Inefficient use of the available information, leading to low power
    and Type II errors.
    * Biased estimates of standard errors, leading to incorrect p-values.
    * Biased parameter estimates, due to failure to adjust for
    selectivity in missing data.

    More accurate and reliable results can be obtained with maximum
    likelihood or multiple imputation.

    These new methods for handling missing data have been around for at
    least a decade, but have only become practical in the last few years
    with the introduction of widely available and user friendly software.
    Maximum likelihood and multiple imputation have very similar statistical
    properties. If the assumptions are met, they are approximately unbiased
    and efficient--that is, they have minimum sampling variance. What's
    remarkable is that these newer methods depend on less demanding
    assumptions than those required for conventional methods for handling
    missing data. At present, maximum likelihood is best suited for linear
    models or log-linear models for contingency tables. Multiple imputation,
    on the other hand, can be used for virtually any statistical problem.

    This course will cover the theory and practice of both maximum
    likelihood and multiple imputation. Maximum likelihood for linear models
    will be demonstrated with Amos, a software package designed for
    estimating structural equation models with latent variables. Multiple
    imputation will be demonstrated with two new SAS procedures (PROC MI and
    PROC MIANALYZE) and two Stata commands (ICE and MICOMBINE).

    *Course outline*

    1. Assumptions for missing data methods
    2. Problems with conventional methods
    3. Maximum likelihood (ML)
    4. ML with EM algorithm
    5. Direct ML with Amos
    6. ML for contingency tables
    7. Multiple Imputation (MI)
    8. MI under multivariate normal model
    9. MI with SAS
    10. MI with categorical and nonnormal data
    11. Interactions and nonlinearities
    12. Using auxiliary variables
    13. Other parametric approaches to MI
    14. Linear hypotheses and likelihood ratio tests
    15. Nonparametric and partially parametric methods
    16. Sequential generalized regression models
    17. MI and ML for nonignorable missing data





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