Summary Recent theory and methodology for inferences concerning the intraclass correlation coefficient are reviewed, under the assumption of an underlying random effects model. Topics discussed include point and interval estimation, significance-testing for nonzero values of the intraclass correlation, and inference procedures in multiple samples.

A Review of Inference Procedures for the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient in the One-Way Random Effects Model

Mixed linear models arise in many areas of application. Standard estimation methods for mixed models are sensitive to bizarre observations. Such influential observations can completely distort an analysis and lead to inappropriate actions and conclusions. We develop case-deletion diagnostics for detecting influential observations in mixed linear models. Diagnostics for both fixed effects and variance components are proposed. Computational formulas are given that make the procedures feasible. The methods are illustrated using examples.

Case-deletion diagnostics for mixed models

Different methods of obtaining confidence intervals for the intraclass correlation coefficient rho in the unbalanced one-way random-effects model are investigated, focusing on applications to family studies. Methods based on simple modifications of formulas for the case of equal group sizes are found to provide adequate coverage at small to moderate values of rho. A method based on the large-sample standard error of the sample intraclass correlation, as derived by Smith (1956, Annals of Human Genetics 21, 363-373), is shown to provide consistently good coverage at all values of rho. A method proposed by Thomas and Hultquist (1978, Annals of Statistics 6, 582-587) also provides consistently good coverage, but generates mean interval widths substantially greater than those generated by Smith's method at values of rho likely to arise in practice.

A comparison of confidence interval methods for the intraclass correlation coefficient

Statistical inference for fixed effects, random effects and components of variance in an unbalanced linear model with variance components will be discussed. Variance components will be estimated by Restricted Maximum Likelihood. Iterative procedures for computing the estimates, such as Fisher scoring and the EM-algorithm, are described.

The analysis of unbalanced linear models with variance components

In this article we propose a new method for constructing confidence intervals for σα2,σϵ2, and the intraclass correlation ρ==σα2(σα2++σe2) in a two-component mixed-effects linear model. This method is based on an extension of R. A. Fisher's fiducial argument. We conducted a simulation study to compare the resulting interval estimates with other competing confidence interval procedures from the literature. Our results demonstrate that the proposed fiducial intervals have satisfactory performance in terms of coverage probability, as well as shorter average confidence interval lengths overall. We also prove that these fiducial intervals have asymptotically exact frequentist coverage probability. The computations for the proposed procedures are illustrated using real data examples.

Fiducial Intervals for Variance Components in an Unbalanced Two-Component Normal Mixed Linear Model

A procedure is presented for constructing an exact confidence interval for the ratio of the two variance components in a possibly unbalanced mixed linear model that contains a single set of m random effects. This procedure can be used in animal and plant breeding problems to obtain an exact confidence interval for a heritability. The confidence interval can be defined in terms of the output of a least squares analysis. It can be computed by a graphical or iterative technique requiring the diagonalization of an m X m matrix or, alternatively, the inversion of a number of m X m matrices. Confidence intervals that are approximate can be obtained with much less computational burden, using either of two approaches. The various confidence interval procedures can be extended to some problems in which the mixed linear model contains more than one set of random effects. Corresponding to each interval procedure is a significance test and one or more estimators.

Alan P. Fenech

Papers

Confidence intervals for a variance ratio, or for heritability, in an unbalanced mixed linear model