Alpha 2.0
Login Register
» Articles » PMID: 24706730

What is the Difference Between Missing Completely at Random and Missing at Random?

Overview
Journal Int J Epidemiol
Specialty Public Health
Date 2014 Apr 8
PMID 24706730
Citations 109
Authors
Krishnan Bhaskaran
Liam Smeeth
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

The terminology describing missingness mechanisms is confusing. In particular the meaning of 'missing at random' is often misunderstood, leading researchers faced with missing data problems away from multiple imputation, a method with considerable advantages. The purpose of this article is to clarify how 'missing at random' differs from 'missing completely at random' via an imagined dialogue between a clinical researcher and statistician.

Citing Articles

Effect of Tai Chi combined with music therapy on the cognitive function in older adult individuals with mild cognitive impairment.

Zhou C Front Public Health. 2025; 13:1475863.

PMID: 39935882 PMC: 11810935. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1475863.

Entering the new digital era of intensive care medicine: an overview of interdisciplinary approaches to use artificial intelligence for patients' benefit.

Old O, Friedrichson B, Zacharowski K, Kloka J Eur J Anaesthesiol Intensive Care. 2025; 2(1):e0014.

PMID: 39916758 PMC: 11783618. DOI: 10.1097/EA9.0000000000000014.

Exploring bias due to below-limit-of-detection values in influenza vaccine antibody modeling: A case study and instructional guide for the CIVIC study.

Ge Y, Handel A, Giabbanelli P, Lemacks J, Greer T, Raynee P Vaccine. 2025; 49:126802.

PMID: 39908720 PMC: 11875013. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126802.

Guidance for measuring and evaluating biomagnification factors and trophic magnification factors of difficult substances: application to decabromodiphenylethane.

Fremlin K, Elliott J, Gobas F Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2025; 21(2):263-278.

PMID: 39886942 PMC: 11844767. DOI: 10.1093/inteam/vjae025.

Long-term safety and efficacy of endovascular ultrasound renal denervation in resistant hypertension: 8-year results from the ACHIEVE study.

Zeijen V, Volz S, Zeller T, Mahfoud F, Kunz M, Kuck K Clin Res Cardiol. 2024; .

PMID: 39441345 DOI: 10.1007/s00392-024-02555-7.

References
1.
Sterne J, White I, Carlin J, Spratt M, Royston P, Kenward M . Multiple imputation for missing data in epidemiological and clinical research: potential and pitfalls. BMJ. 2009; 338:b2393. PMC: 2714692. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b2393. View
2.
Greenland S, Finkle W . A critical look at methods for handling missing covariates in epidemiologic regression analyses. Am J Epidemiol. 1995; 142(12):1255-64. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a117592. View