Analyzing Clustered Data: Why and How to Account for Multiple Observations Nested within a Study Participant?

PloS One
Erika L MoenA James O'Malley

Abstract

A conventional study design among medical and biological experimentalists involves collecting multiple measurements from a study subject. For example, experiments utilizing mouse models in neuroscience often involve collecting multiple neuron measurements per mouse to increase the number of observations without requiring a large number of mice. This leads to a form of statistical dependence referred to as clustering. Inappropriate analyses of clustered data have resulted in several recent critiques of neuroscience research that suggest the bar for statistical analyses within the field is set too low. We compare naïve analytical approaches to marginal, fixed-effect, and mixed-effect models and provide guidelines for when each of these models is most appropriate based on study design. We demonstrate the influence of clustering on a between-mouse treatment effect, a within-mouse treatment effect, and an interaction effect between the two. Our analyses demonstrate that these statistical approaches can give substantially different results, primarily when the analyses include a between-mouse treatment effect. In a novel analysis from a neuroscience perspective, we also refine the mixed-effect approach through the inclusion of an aggr...Continue Reading

References

Jun 24, 2004·Annals of Family Medicine·Stephen J ZyzanskiL Miriam Dickinson
Aug 13, 2010·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Sally GalbraithBryce Vissel
Sep 1, 2011·Nature Neuroscience·Sander NieuwenhuisEric-Jan Wagenmakers
Mar 29, 2014·Nature Neuroscience·Emmeke AartsSophie van der Sluis
May 6, 2014·Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience·Catherine J FricanoBryan W Luikart
Dec 30, 2014·ILAR Journal·Richard M A Parker, William J Browne

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 9, 2016·The Journal of Clinical Investigation·Robert EsterbergDavid W Raible
Jun 4, 2019·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·María Florencia ScaiaClassius de Oliveira
Sep 8, 2020·BMC Medical Research Methodology·Lawrence MbuagbawLehana Thabane
Apr 11, 2019·Molecular Psychiatry·Patrick D SkeltonBryan W Luikart
Feb 13, 2020·Scientific Reports·Stanley E LazicMarcus R Munafo
Oct 24, 2018·Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD·Margaret M RyanJoanna M Williams
Nov 25, 2020·Health Services Research·Daniel Bennett, Robert Rosenheck
Dec 1, 2020·Chemosphere·Lilian Franco-BelussiClassius De Oliveira
Jan 19, 2021·The Journal of Physiology·Jessica A BreznikDawn M E Bowdish
Mar 21, 2021·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·Runyu ZouHenning Tiemeier
May 27, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Lara Zácari FanaliJoachim Sturve
Aug 18, 2021·Environment International·Marja I RoslundUNKNOWN ADELE research group

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
fatty

Software Mentioned

SAS
Stata
Matlab
R

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Sally GalbraithBryce Vissel
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
G L Pearce, D D Frisbie
American Journal of Epidemiology
Diana L Miglioretti, Patrick J Heagerty
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved