Systematic Missing-At-Random (SMAR) Design and Analysis for Translational Research Studies

Systematic Reviews of Animal Studies; Missing Link in Translational Research?

BACKGROUND The methodological quality of animal studies is an important factor hampering the translation of results from animal studies to a clinical setting. Systematic reviews of animal studies may provide a suitable method to assess and thereby improve their methodological quality. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were: 1) to evaluate the risk of bias assessment in animal-based systematic...

Distinguishing "Missing at Random"i and "Missing Completely at Randomn"

Optimal Design When Outcome Values Are Not Missing at Random

The presence of missing values complicates statistical analyses. In design of experiments, missing values are particularly problematic when constructing optimal designs, as it is not known which values are missing at the design stage. When data are missing at random it is possible to incorporate this information into the optimality criterion that is used to find designs; Imhof, Song, and Wong (...

What is the difference between missing completely at random and missing at random?

The terminology describing missingness mechanisms is confusing. In particular the meaning of 'missing at random' is often misunderstood, leading researchers faced with missing data problems away from multiple imputation, a method with considerable advantages. The purpose of this article is to clarify how 'missing at random' differs from 'missing completely at random' via an imagined dialogue be...

Translational neuroscience requires better design and analysis of preclinical studies

Animal models are often used to obtain a better understanding of psychiatric, neurodegenerative, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite many years of research, these models have not led to many novel therapies or treatments. Translating results between species will always be difficult, and it is argued that inappropriate statistical analyses, failure to identify the experimental unit, lack o...