Handling missing data: analysis of a challenging data set using multiple imputation

Maria Pampaka, Graeme Hutcheson, Julian Williams
2014 International Journal of Research & Method in Education  
Missing data is endemic in much educational research. However, practices such as step-wise regression common in the educational research literature have been shown to be dangerous when significant data are missing, and multiple imputation (MI) is generally recommended by statisticians. In this paper, we provide a review of these advances and their implications for educational research. We illustrate the issues with an educational, longitudinal survey in which missing data was significant, but
more » ... r which we were able to collect much of these missing data through subsequent data collection. We thus compare methods, that is, step-wise regression (basically ignoring the missing data) and MI models, with the model from the actual enhanced sample. The value of MI is discussed and the risks involved in ignoring missing data are considered. Implications for research practice are discussed.
doi:10.1080/1743727x.2014.979146 fatcat:nva6foos2zcmdhm4mbgdnn2t24