This dissertation investigates two methodological problems. The first problem concerns developing and optimizing multicomponent interventions. The traditional approach to this problem is to conduct a two-group randomized trial of a "likelybest" intervention vs. control, followed by observational...

Generalized linear models with covariate measurement error can be estimated by maximum likelihood using gllamm, a program that fits a large class of multilevel latent variable models (Rabe-Hesketh, Skrondal, and Pickles 2004). The program uses adaptive quadrature to evaluate the log likelihood,...

Spatial and social dependence shape human activity-travel pattern decisions and their antecedent choices. Although the transportation literature has long recognized the importance of considering spatial and social dependencies in modeling individuals’ choice behavior, there has been less...

Mixed model estimation methods were used to fit individual-tree basal area growth models to tree and stand-level measurements available from permanent plots established in naturally regenerated shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) even-aged stands in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma in the...

The alleged privacy paradox states that individuals report high values for personal privacy, while at the same time they report behavior that contradicts a high privacy value. This is a misconception. Reported privacy behaviors are explained by asymmetric subjective beliefs. Beliefs may or may...

In many studies, lattice or area data are observed and spatial analysis is performed. A spatial process observed over a lattice or a set of irregular regions is usually modeled using a conditionally autoregressive (CAR) model. The neighborhoods within a CAR model are generally formed using only...

Air toxic emission factor data often contain one or more censored points below a single or multiple detection limits. Such data sets are referred to as "censored." Conventional methods used to deal with censored data sets include removing non-detects, or replacing the censored points with zero,...

Stochastic volatility (SV) models provide a means of tracking and forecasting the variance of financial asset returns. While SV models have a number of theoretical advantages over competing variance modelling procedures they are notoriously difficult to estimate. The distinguishing feature of...

This study examined the theoretical basis for decision making behavior of patients with right or left temporal lobectomy and a control group when they participated in the Iowa Gambling Task. Two cognitive decision models, Expectancy Valence Model and Strategy Switching Heuristic Choice Model,...

In this paper I derive the asymptotics of the exact, Euler, and Milstein MLestimators for diffusion models, including general nonstationary diffusions. Thoughthere have been many estimators for the diffusion model, their asymptotic propertieswere generally unknown. This is especially true for...