Drexel University School of Public Health

PBHL 625
Longitudinal Data Analysis
(3 credit hours)
Instructor:

Zekarias Berhne, Ph.D

Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatsitics
Drexel University
6th Floor, Office 652
3215 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
E-mail: zb26@drexel.edu
Phone: (267) 359-6035

Course Time:

Tuesday 9:00 AM 11:50 AM

Course Location: NESBITT 132

Office Hours:

TBD

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Longitudinal data measure charact eristics on the experimental units repeatedly over time. It
is an e ssential design to study temporal change and to est ablish causal relationships. The
analysis of longitudinal data, however, requires much more sophisticated methodologies due
to the correlation intro duced by repeated measurements. This co
urse covers modern
statistical techniques for longitudinal data fro m an applied perspect ive. Topics include
characteristics of the lo ngitudinal design, graphical exploration of the mean and correlation
structure, ANOVA for repeated measurements, general linear model, linear mixed effects
models, maximum likelihood and restricted ma ximum likelihood estim ation, modeling the
variance-covariance structures, inf erence for random eff ects, logistic and Poisson mixed
effects model for binar y and count data, marginal models and ge
neralized estimating
equations, model diagnostics and missing da ta handling. Analysis of real and substantial
data sets using statistical software SAS will be integrated throughout.
The course is suitable for master students in biostatistics and doctoral students in other fields
such as epidemiology or the social sciences who need to analyze longitudinal data.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The students will learn to do the following:
1. Identify the special features of longitudinal design, describe how these features might
relate to the analysis. Manipulate the data in a way suitable for longitudinal analysis.
2. Graphically explore and present the longitudinal data.

3. Use SAS Proc mixed to analyze continuous longitudinal data. Correctly specify fixed and
random effects and covariance structure. Interpret the SAS output.
4. Use SAS Proc genmod to analyze repeated binary or count data using generalized
estimating equation techniques.
5. Use SAS Proc Glimmix to perform logistic and Poisson mixed effects modeling for
repeated binary or count data.
6. Predict the impact of missing data on standard statistical inference and for a particular
situation, be able to choose between the common approaches for handling missing
values.
7. Plan and design a longitudinal study. Use an appropriate method to analyze a particular
study and interpret the result.
8. Use the above methods to analyze other correlated data such as multi-center clinical
trials.
PREREQUISITES:
PBHL620 Intermediate Biostatistics I.
TEXTBOOKS:
Required:
Garrett Fitzmaurice, Nan Laird, James Ware: Applied Longitudinal Analysis 2nd Ed, Wiley
Series in Probability and Statistics, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-470-38027-7
Recommended:
Hellen Brown, Robin Prescott: Applied Mixed Models in Medicine, Statistics in
Practice, 2006. ISBN: 0470023562
Peter Diggle, Patrick Heagerty, Kung-Yee Liang, Scott Zeger: Analysis of Longitudinal data,
Oxford Statistical Science Series, 2002. ISBN 0198524846
COURSE FORMAT:
A session usually consists of 2 hours of lecture and 50 minutes of computer lab. There will
be 6 homework assignments. Students are encouraged to work together on assignments but
the final write-up must be each individual's work. Both midterm and final exams will be closed
book but a two page formula sheet is allowed. For students in full-time School of Public
Health degree programs, SAS software can be obtained from the School of Public Health
librarian. Students with issues accessing SAS software should contact Georgeanne Talarico
(glt23@drexel.edu) in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department.

GRADING:
10% based on attendance and participation, 40% based on homework assignments and
50% based on midterm and final exams. Homework are due at the beginning of each class a
week from the assignment date.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Week

Topic

Introduction to longitudinal studies,

design considerations
Graphical exploration and
presentation of longitudinal data,
repeated measure ANOVA,
overview of linear models for
longitudinal data, SAS Proc
glm/mixed
General linear model for
longitudinal data, SAS Proc mixed
General linear model for
longitudinal data, SAS Proc mixed
General linear mixed model for
longitudinal data, SAS Proc mixed
Review for the midterm exam
Midterm Exam, generalized linear
model

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Generalized linear models,

marginal models and GEE, SAS
Proc Genmod
Generalized linear mixed effects
models, SAS Proc glimmix
Contrasting marginal and mixed
effects models, missing values in
longitudinal data
Final Exam

Reading
Assignment *
Chapter 1, 2

Homework
Given

Chapter 3

HW 1

Homework
Due

HW 1

Chapter 4,5,6
Chapter 7

HW 2

Chapter 8,9

HW 3

HW 2
HW 3

Chapter 11
Chapter 12,13

HW 4

Chapter 14,15

HW 5

Chapter 16-18

HW 4
HW 5

* This is for Garrett Fitzmaurice, Nan Laird, James Ware (2nd Ed, 2011) Applied Longitudinal
Analysis.