Sensitivity analysis for multivariable missing data using multiple imputation: a tutorial

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Nguyen, Cattram D, Lee, Katherine J, White, Ian R, van Buuren, Stef, Moreno-Betancur, Margarita
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Nguyen, Cattram D
Lee, Katherine J
White, Ian R
van Buuren, Stef
Moreno-Betancur, Margarita
author_facet Nguyen, Cattram D
Lee, Katherine J
White, Ian R
van Buuren, Stef
Moreno-Betancur, Margarita
contents Multiple imputation is a popular method for handling missing data, with fully conditional specification (FCS) being one of the predominant imputation approaches for multivariable missingness. Unbiased estimation with standard implementations of multiple imputation depends on assumptions concerning the missingness mechanism (e.g. that data are "missing at random"). The plausibility of these assumptions can only be assessed using subject-matter knowledge, and not data alone. It is therefore important to perform sensitivity analyses to explore the robustness of results to violations of these assumptions (e.g. if the data are in fact "missing not at random"). In this tutorial, we provide a roadmap for conducting sensitivity analysis using the Not at Random Fully Conditional Specification (NARFCS) procedure for multivariate imputation. Using a case study from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, we work through the steps involved, from assessing the need to perform the sensitivity analysis, and specifying the NARFCS models and sensitivity parameters, through to implementing NARFCS using FCS procedures in R and Stata.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_02892
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Sensitivity analysis for multivariable missing data using multiple imputation: a tutorial
Nguyen, Cattram D
Lee, Katherine J
White, Ian R
van Buuren, Stef
Moreno-Betancur, Margarita
Methodology
Multiple imputation is a popular method for handling missing data, with fully conditional specification (FCS) being one of the predominant imputation approaches for multivariable missingness. Unbiased estimation with standard implementations of multiple imputation depends on assumptions concerning the missingness mechanism (e.g. that data are "missing at random"). The plausibility of these assumptions can only be assessed using subject-matter knowledge, and not data alone. It is therefore important to perform sensitivity analyses to explore the robustness of results to violations of these assumptions (e.g. if the data are in fact "missing not at random"). In this tutorial, we provide a roadmap for conducting sensitivity analysis using the Not at Random Fully Conditional Specification (NARFCS) procedure for multivariate imputation. Using a case study from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, we work through the steps involved, from assessing the need to perform the sensitivity analysis, and specifying the NARFCS models and sensitivity parameters, through to implementing NARFCS using FCS procedures in R and Stata.
title Sensitivity analysis for multivariable missing data using multiple imputation: a tutorial
topic Methodology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.02892