Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In this paper, we discuss the analysis of complex health survey data by using multivariate modeling techniques. Our main interests are in design-based and model-based methods that aim at accounting for clustering, stratification and... more
In this paper, we discuss the analysis of complex health survey data by using multivariate modeling techniques. Our main interests are in design-based and model-based methods that aim at accounting for clustering, stratification and weighting effects. Our main interests are in clustering effects. Methods considered include generalized linear modeling with on pseudo-likelihood and generalized estimating equations, linear mixed models estimated by restricted maximum likelihood, and hierarchical Bayes techniques using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. The methods will be compared empirically, using data from a health interview and examination survey conducted in Finland in 2000 (Health-2000 Study). The data of the Health-2000 Study were collected using personal interviews, questionnaires and clinical examinations. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling design was used. The sampling design involved positive intra-cluster correlation for several study variables. We selected the s...
Research Interests:
The Finnish Consumer Barometer was introduced in autumn 1987. Data were first collected twice a year and from August 1991 until September 1995 quarterly. After Finland joined the European Union in 1995, the survey was adopted as one... more
The Finnish Consumer Barometer was introduced in autumn 1987. Data were first collected twice a year and from August 1991 until September 1995 quarterly. After Finland joined the European Union in 1995, the survey was adopted as one member of the Harmonised Consumer Survey of the European Communities. Since October 1995, data have been collected monthly. Performance of the Consumer Barometer has already been evaluated by means of descriptive studies (see Djerf 1990). As the survey matures, it becomes feasible to make a more thorough study on the usefulness of the survey. Here we are, for example, interested in investigating how consumers were able to predict the long-lasting recession of our economy. The consumer confidence index and the five questions used for calculating it are compared to various components of Finnish macroeconomic time series. Additionally, we analyse the coincidence of other common measures (unemployment expectations, inflation expectations, etc.) as well as ot...