Doctoral Degrees (Statistics and Actuarial Science)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Statistics and Actuarial Science) by browse.metadata.advisor "Lubbe, Sugnet"

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    Biplot methodology for analysing and evaluating missing multivariate nominal scaled data
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12) Nienkemper-Swanepoel, Johane; Le Roux, N. J.; Lubbe, Sugnet; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Statistics and Actuarial Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research aims at developing exploratory techniques that are specifically suitable for missing data applications. Categorical data analysis, missing data analysis and biplot visualisation are the three core methodologies that are combined to develop novel techniques. Variants of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) biplots are used for all visualisations. The first study objective addresses exploratory analysis after multiple imputation (MI). Multiple plausible values are imputed for each missing observation to construct multiple completed data sets for standard analyses. Biplot visualisations are constructed for each completed data set after MI which require individual exploration to obtain final inference. The number of MIs will greatly affect the accuracy and consistency of the interpretations obtained from several plots. This predicament led to the development of GPAbin, to optimally combine configurations from MIs to obtain a single configuration for final inference. The GPAbin approach advances from two statistical techniques: generalised orthogonal Procrustes analysis (GPA) and the combining rules used to combine estimates obtained from MIs, Rubin’s rules. Albeit a superior missing data handling approach, MI could be daunting for the non‐technical practitioner. Therefore, an adequate alternative approach could be appealing and contribute to the variety of available methods for the handling of incomplete multivariate categorical data. The second objective aims at confirming whether visualisations obtained from nonimputed data sets are a suitable alternative to visualisations obtained from MIs. Subset MCA (sMCA) distinguishes between observed and missing subsets of a multivariate categorical data set by creating an additional response category level (CL) for missing responses in the indicator matrix. Missing and observed responses can be visualised separately by only considering the subset of interest in the recoded indicator matrix. The visualisation of the observed responses utilises all available information which would have been forfeited by deletion methods. The third study objective explores the possibility of predicting a complete multivariate categorical data set from MI visualisations obtained from the first study objective. The distances between the coordinates of a biplot in the full space are used to predict plausible responses. Since the aim of this research is to advance missing data visualisations, the visualisations obtained from predicted completed data sets are compared to visualisations of simulated complete data sets. The emphasis is on preserving inference and not recreating the original data. Missing data techniques are typically developed to address a specific missing data problem. It is therefore crucial to understand the cause of missingness in order to apply suitable missing data techniques. The fourth study objective investigates the sMCA biplot of the missing subset of the recoded indicator matrix. Configurations of the incomplete subsets enable the recognition of non‐response patterns which could provide insight into the particular missing data mechanism (MDM). The missing at random (MAR) MDM refers to missing responses that are dependent on the observed information and is expected to be identified by patterns and groupings occurring in the incomplete sMCA biplot. The missing completely at random (MCAR) MDM states that all observations have the same probability of not being captured which could be identified by a random cloud of points in the incomplete sMCA biplot. Cluster analysis is applied to confirm distinguishable groupings in the incomplete sMCA biplot which could be used as a guideline to identify the MDM. The proposed methodologies to address the different study objectives are evaluated by means of an extensive simulation study comprising of various sample sizes, variables and varying number of CLs which are simulated from three different distributions. The findings of the simulation study are applied to a real data set to aid as a guide for the analysis. Functions have been developed for R statistical software to perform all methodology presented in this research. It is included as a tool pack provided as an appendix to assist in the correct handling and unbiased visualisation of multivariate categorical data with missing observations. Keywords: biplots; categorical data; missing data; multiple correspondence analysis; multiple imputation; Procrustes analysis.