Modeling heterogeneity of capture probabilities in capture-recapture studies

• Main Author: Melocco, Marie.
• Other Authors: Vandal, A. C. (advisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 2002
• Subjects: Statistics.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=33810

In capture-recapture studies, the estimate of the size of the population is biased when members differ in the probability of capture by any source. Different log-linear models can account for the heterogeneity among individuals, using covariate information. We compare different methods modeling this observable heterogeneity using data from the Auckland Leg Ulcer Study, 1997--1998. One method is based on the Coefficient of Source Dependence (CSD) and the other one is based on logistic regression. We find that these methods reduce the bias of the estimate and we recommend their use.