Inference for Parametric Models and Imputation Approaches

Abstract

Although the main focus of this book is nonparametric and semiparametric inference procedures, it is helpful to first consider inference methods for parametric models and some imputation approaches. A main advantage of parametric approaches is that their implementation is straightforward in principle and in fact standard maximum likelihood theory generally applies. Imputation approaches are used to reduce the problem of analyzing interval-censored failure time data to that of analyzing right-censored failure time data. Thus one can avoid dealing with interval censoring and use existing inference procedures and statistical software developed for right-censored data.