IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cup/jagaec/v7y1975i01p211-216_01.html

The Deletion of Variables From Regression Models Based on Tests of Significance: A Statistical and Moral Issue

Author

Listed:
  • Debertin, David L.
  • Freund, R. J.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate some of the dangers inherent in use of statistical tests as a criterion for deleting variables from regression models. The deletion of variables from regression models based on t or F tests of regression coefficients has been a procedure widely followed by applied economists and other researchers. When economic theory does not provide an adequate conceptual basis for rigorous a priori specification of the regression model, one approach to model specification has been to include in the regression equation all variables thought to be “somehow” related to the dependent variable of interest. Subsets of variables with statistically significant coefficients are identified, with the aid of a stepwise regression routine. Truncated models consisting of only those variables with statistically significant regression coefficients are sometimes presented in the published research without reference to the initial data dredging that took place.

Suggested Citation

  • Debertin, David L. & Freund, R. J., 1975. "The Deletion of Variables From Regression Models Based on Tests of Significance: A Statistical and Moral Issue," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(1), pages 211-216, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jagaec:v:7:y:1975:i:01:p:211-216_01
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0081305200012383/type/journal_article
    File Function: link to article abstract page
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bowker, J. M. & MacDonald, H. F., "undated". "An Economic Analysis of Localized Pollution: Rendering Emissions in a Residential Setting," 1992 Annual Meeting, August 9-12, Baltimore, Maryland 271381, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    2. Shumway, C. Richard & Talpaz, Hovav, 1977. "Verification of Linear Programming Solutions, with Emphasis on Supply Implications," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(2), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Griffin, Ronald C. & Rister, M. Edward & Montgomery, John M. & Turner, Fred T., 1985. "Scheduling Inputs with Production Functions: Optimal Nitrogen Programs for Rice," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(1), pages 159-168, July.
    4. Debertin, David L., 1976. "Estimating Education Production Functions in Rural and Urban Areas," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(2), pages 31-35, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:cup:jagaec:v:7:y:1975:i:01:p:211-216_01. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Kirk Stebbing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.cambridge.org/aae .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.