Improved Approximations for Multilevel Models with Binary Responses

• DOI: 10.2307/2983328
• Publication Date: 2006-06-18T05:31:38Z
• Authors: Harvey Goldstein; Jon Rasbash
• Keywords: 0101 mathematics; 01 natural sciences

SUMMARY This paper discusses the use of improved approximations for the estimation of generalized linear multilevel models where the response is a proportion. Simulation studies by Rodriguez and Goldman have shown that in extreme situations large biases can occur, most notably when the response is binary, the number of level 1 units per level 2 unit is small and the underlying random parameter values are large. An improved approximation is introduced which largely eliminates the biases in the situation described by Rodriguez and Goldman. Keywortis: �BINARY RESPONSE; GENERALIZED LINEAR MODEL; HIERARCHICAL DATA; MARGINAL MODEL; MULTILEVEL MODEL; QUASI-LIKELIHOOD; UNIT-SPECIFIC MODEL