|
How to Generate Missing Data For Simulation Studies
Full text PDF
Bibliographic information:
BibTEX format
RIS format
XML format
APA style
Cited references information:
BibTEX format
APA style
Doi:
10.20982/tqmp.19.2.p100
Zhang, Xijuan
100-122
Keywords:
Missing Data; Incomplete Data; Simulation Studies; Creating Missing Data; Generating Missing Data
Tools: R
(no sample data)
 
(Appendix)
Missing data are common in psychological and educational research. With the improvement in computing technology in recent decades, more researchers have begun developing missing data techniques. In their research, they often conduct Monte Carlo simulation studies to compare the performances of different missing data techniques. During such simulation studies, researchers must generate missing data in the simulated dataset by deciding which data values to delete. However, in the current literature, there are limited guidelines on how to generate missing data for simulation studies. Our paper is one of the first that examines ways of generating missing data for simulation studies. I emphasize the importance of specifying missing data rules which are statistical models for generating missing data. I begin the paper by reviewing the types of missing data mechanisms and missing data patterns. I then explain how to specify missing data rules to generate missing data with different mechanisms and patterns. I emphasize the advantages and disadvantages of using different missing data rules and algorithms to generate missing data for simulation studies. Next, I discuss other important aspects of simulation studies involving missing data. I end the paper by offering recommendations for generating missing data for simulation studies.
|