Multiple Imputation of Missing Data in Practice: Basic Theory and Analysis Strategies provides a comprehensive introduction to the multiple imputation approach to missing data problems that are often encountered in data analysis. Over the past 40 years or so, multiple imputation has gone through rapid development in both theories and applications. It is nowadays the most versatile, popular, and effective missing-data strategy that is used by researchers and practitioners across different fields. There is a strong need to better understand and learn about multiple imputation in the research and practical community. Accessible to a broad audience, this book explains statistical concepts of missing data problems and the associated terminology. It focuses on how to address missing data problems using multiple imputation. It describes the basic theory behind multiple imputation and many commonly-used models and methods. These ideas are illustrated by examples from a wide variety of missing data problems. Real data from studies with different designs and features (e.g., cross-sectional data, longitudinal data, complex surveys, survival data, studies subject to measurement error, etc.) are used to demonstrate the methods. In order for readers not only to know how to use the methods, but understand why multiple imputation works and how to choose appropriate methods, simulation studies are used to assess the performance of the multiple imputation methods. Example datasets and sample programming code are either included in the book or available at a github site (https://github.com/he-zhang-hsu/multiple_imputation_book). Key Features Provides an overview of statistical concepts that are useful for better understanding missing data problems and multiple imputation analysis Provides a detailed discussion on multiple imputation models and methods targeted to different types of missing data problems (e.g., univariate and multivariate missing data problems, missing data in survival analysis, longitudinal data, complex surveys, etc.) Explores measurement error problems with multiple imputation Discusses analysis strategies for multiple imputation diagnostics Discusses data production issues when the goal of multiple imputation is to release datasets for public use, as done by organizations that process and manage large-scale surveys with nonresponse problems For some examples, illustrative datasets and sample programming code from popular statistical packages (e.g., SAS, R, WinBUGS) are included in the book. For others, they are available at a github site (https://github.com/he-zhang-hsu/multiple_imputation_book)

How fast and how far China's fertility declined in the 1990s had long been a matter of considerable debate. The very low fertility, despite consistently being reported in a number of statistical investigations over time, was attributed to underreporting of births. However, a careful interpretation of data goes far beyond considering the numbers, which calls for a thorough understanding of different data collection mechanisms, the programmatic and societal changes that occurred in the 1990s, which greatly affected both fertility changes and data collection efforts. After undertaking a systematic analysis of fertility data collected during the past two decades, this book concludes that it was a reality of substantial fertility decline in China over the decade reaching the level around 1.6 children per women in 2000, and it is a proper time to consider an alternative of the one-child policy. This book is a valuable addition to our knowledge of Chinese changing population, and will be of special interest of demographers, social researchers, program practitioners and policy makers in China.