ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF COOPERATION BIAS AND ATTRITION IN BEHAVIORAL GENETIC RESEARCH USING DATA-WEIGHTING

摘要: Because twins and adoptees are a rare resource, they often studied repeatedly over period of many years. Differential attrition, in some studies initial cooperation bias, have the potential to lead serious biases estimates genetic environmental parameters. Since non-response is influenced by multiple binary or categorical sociodemographic variables, maximum-likelihood methods not easily adapted adjust for such effects. In this brief note we illustrate use data-weighting assess likely effects bias attrition both on measures mean prevalence, twin pair correlations concordances, using data from Australian panel 1981 survey alcohol challenge studies. Participants study were average younger, more socially nonconforming, heavier drinkers, be unmarried, less report their religion as Other Protestant. Reweighting sample same distribution these variables respondents confirmed that individuals who would feel very intoxicated after dose underrepresented study. However, pairwise indicated was leading only slight underestimation importance subjective intoxication.