ArticleBMC medical research methodology2019
The relationship between statistical power and predictor distribution in multilevel logistic regression: a simulation-based approach.
Article in BMC medical research methodology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers.
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed.
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- Dynamic Regulatory Processes in the Transition From Suicidal Ideation to Action in Adults Leaving Inpatient Psychiatric Care: Protocol for an Intensive Longitudinal Study.JMIR research protocols · 2022Article
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite its popularity, issues concerning the estimation of power in multilevel logistic regression models are prevalent because of the complexity involved in its calculation (i.e., computer-simulation-based approaches). These issues are further compounded by the fact that the distribution of the predictors can play a role in the power to estimate these effects. To address both matters, we present a sample of cases documenting the influence that predictor distribution have on statistical power as well as a user-friendly, web-based application to conduct power analysis for multilevel logistic regression.
methodComputer simulations are implemented to estimate statistical power in multilevel logistic regression with varying numbers of clusters, varying cluster sample sizes, and non-normal and non-symmetrical distributions of the Level 1/2 predictors. Power curves were simulated to see in what ways non-normal/unbalanced distributions of a binary predictor and a continuous predictor affect the detection of population effect sizes for main effects, a cross-level interaction and the variance of the random effects.
resultsSkewed continuous predictors and unbalanced binary ones require larger sample sizes at both levels than balanced binary predictors and normally-distributed continuous ones. In the most extreme case of imbalance (10% incidence) and skewness of a chi-square distribution with 1 degree of freedom, even 110 Level 2 units and 100 Level 1 units were not sufficient for all predictors to reach power of 80%, mostly hovering at around 50% with the exception of the skewed, continuous Level 2 predictor.
conclusionsGiven the complex interactive influence among sample sizes, effect sizes and predictor distribution characteristics, it seems unwarranted to make generic rule-of-thumb sample size recommendations for multilevel logistic regression, aside from the fact that larger sample sizes are required when the distributions of the predictors are not symmetric or balanced. The more skewed or imbalanced the predictor is, the larger the sample size requirements. To assist researchers in planning research studies, a user-friendly web application that conducts power analysis via computer simulations in the R programming language is provided. With this web application, users can conduct simulations, tailored to their study design, to estimate statistical power for multilevel logistic regression models.
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