Limitations of Common Solutions to Missing Data

A previous article discussed some of the causesTherefore, a case with data missing on one
of missing data and some of the consequencesvariable will be used only in steps that do not
of analyzing only complete cases. This newsletterinvolve that variable. The advantage is that the
will discuss some other common ways of dealingsample size for each individual analysis is generally
with missing data, with a discussion of theirhigher than with complete case analysis, but the
advantages and disadvantages.results are unbiased only if the data are MCAR. It
Available case analysis (pairwise deletion) calculatescan also lead to mathematical problems in
each step of the analysis separately using thecomputing estimates of some parameters, and is
cases that have data available for that step.not recommended.