Statistical Inference After Model Selection

Conventional statistical inference requires that a model of how the data were generated be known before the data are analyzed. Yet in criminology, and in the social sciences more broadly, a variety of model selection procedures are routinely undertaken followed by statistical tests and confidence in...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Berk, Richard A (Autor)
Otros Autores: Zhao, Linda ; Brown, Lawrence D
Tipo de documento: Electrónico Libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2010
En:Año: 2010
Acceso en línea: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Verificar disponibilidad: HBZ Gateway
Descripción
Sumario:Conventional statistical inference requires that a model of how the data were generated be known before the data are analyzed. Yet in criminology, and in the social sciences more broadly, a variety of model selection procedures are routinely undertaken followed by statistical tests and confidence intervals computed for a “final” model. In this paper, we examine such practices and show how they are typically misguided. The parameters being estimated are no longer well defined, and post-model-selection sampling distributions are mixtures with properties that are very different from what is conventionally assumed. Confidence intervals and statistical tests do not perform as they should. We examine in some detail the specific mechanisms responsible. We also offer some suggestions for better practice and show though a criminal justice example using real data how proper statistical inference in principle may be obtained