Logistic Regression: A Self-Learning Text (Statistics for Biology and Health)

This is the third edition of this text on logistic regression methods, originally published in 1994, with its second e- tion published in 2002. As in the first two editions, each chapter contains a pres- tation of its topic in “lecture?book” format together with objectives, an outline, key formulae, practice exercises, and a test. The “lecture book” has a sequence of illust- tions, formulae, or summary statements in the left column of each page and a script (i. e. , text) in the right column. This format allows you to read the script in conjunction with the illustrations and formulae that highlight the main points, formulae, or examples being presented. This third edition has expanded the second edition by adding three new chapters and a modified computer appendix. We have also expanded our overview of mod- ing strategy guidelines in Chap. 6 to consider causal d- grams. The three new chapters are as follows: Chapter 8: Additional Modeling Strategy Issues Chapter 9: Assessing Goodness of Fit for Logistic Regression Chapter 10: Assessing Discriminatory Performance of a Binary Logistic Model: ROC Curves In adding these three chapters, we have moved Chaps. 8 through 13 from the second edition to follow the new chapters, so that these previous chapters have been ren- bered as Chaps. 11–16 in this third edition.

This very popular textbook is now in its third edition. Whether students or working professionals, readers appreciate its unique "lecture book" format. They often say the book reads like they are listening to an outstanding lecturer. This edition includes three new chapters, an updated computer appendix, and an expanded section about modeling guidelines that consider causal diagrams.

Like previous editions, this textbook provides a highly readable description of fundamental and more advanced concepts and methods of logistic regression. It is suitable for researchers and statisticians in medical and other life sciences as well as academicians teaching second-level regression methods courses.

The new chapters are:

• Additional Modeling Strategy Issues, including strategy with several exposures, screening variables, collinearity, influential observations and multiple-testing

• Assessing Goodness to Fit for Logistic Regression

• Assessing Discriminatory Performance of a Binary Logistic Model: ROC Curves

The Computer Appendix provides step-by-step instructions for using STATA (version 10.0), SAS (version 9.2), and SPSS (version 16) for procedures described in the main text.

David Kleinbaum is Professor of Epidemiology at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Kleinbaum is internationally known for his innovative textbooks and teaching on epidemiological methods, multiple linear regression, logistic regression, and survival analysis. He has taught more than 200 courses worldwide. The recipient of numerous teaching awards, he received the first Association of Schools of Public Health Pfizer Award for Distinguished Career Teaching in 2005.

Mitchel Klein is Research Assistant Professor with a joint appointment in the Environmental and Occupational Health Department and the Epidemiology Department at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. He has successfullydesigned and taught epidemiologic methods physicians at Emory’s Master of Science in Clinical Research Program. Dr. Klein is co-author with Dr. Kleinbaum of the second edition of Survival Analysis-A Self-Learning Text.