Valid randomization‐based p‐values for partially post hoc subgroup analyses

Abstract

By ‘partially post‐hoc’ subgroup analyses, we mean analyses that compare existing data from a randomized experiment—from which a subgroup specification is derived—to new, subgroup‐only experimental data. We describe a motivating example in which partially post hoc subgroup analyses instigated statistical debate about a medical device's efficacy. We clarify the source of such analyses' invalidity and then propose a randomization‐based approach for generating valid posterior predictive p‐values for such partially post hoc subgroups. Lastly, we investigate the approach's operating characteristics in a simple illustrative setting through a series of simulations, showing that it can have desirable properties under both null and alternative hypotheses. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
May 11, 2015
Source ID
10.1002/sim.6531

Entities

People

  • Donald B. Rubin
  • Joseph J Lee

Organizations

  • Harvard University
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Mathematics

Readers

  • Regression Analysis.
  • Theoretical Analysis.