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A Comparison of Three Popular Methods for Handling Missing Data: Complete-Case Analysis, Inverse Probability Weighting, and Multiple Imputation

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  • Roderick J. Little
  • James R. Carpenter
  • Katherine J. Lee

Abstract

Missing data are a pervasive problem in data analysis. Three common methods for addressing the problem are (a) complete-case analysis, where only units that are complete on the variables in an analysis are included; (b) weighting, where the complete cases are weighted by the inverse of an estimate of the probability of being complete; and (c) multiple imputation (MI), where missing values of the variables in the analysis are imputed as draws from their predictive distribution under an implicit or explicit statistical model, the imputation process is repeated to create multiple filled-in data sets, and analysis is carried out using simple MI combining rules. This article provides a non-technical discussion of the strengths and weakness of these approaches, and when each of the methods might be adopted over the others. The methods are illustrated on data from the Youth Cohort (Time) Series (YCS) for England, Wales and Scotland, 1984–2002.

Suggested Citation

  • Roderick J. Little & James R. Carpenter & Katherine J. Lee, 2024. "A Comparison of Three Popular Methods for Handling Missing Data: Complete-Case Analysis, Inverse Probability Weighting, and Multiple Imputation," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 53(3), pages 1105-1135, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:53:y:2024:i:3:p:1105-1135
    DOI: 10.1177/00491241221113873
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Horowitz, Joel L. & Manski, Charles F., 1998. "Censoring of outcomes and regressors due to survey nonresponse: Identification and estimation using weights and imputations," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 37-58, May.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:4937 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. repec:mpr:mprres:4780 is not listed on IDEAS
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    1. Weiwen Lai, 2025. "Weaker intentions or lower realization? Explaining gender differences in labor migration from rural China," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 1-30, September.

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