CRC Press Statistics Newsletter

1. Joint Statistical Meetings 2009
JSM 2009 – A Behind the Scenes Look Visit Chapman & Hall/CRC
It was several weeks before JSM 2007 when I got the email
at Booth 304
– “Was I interested in being the JSM 2009 Program Every year at JSM Chapman & Hall/
Chair?” I immediately replied with a resounding YES! My CRC offers attendees the chance to save
name and others were then submitted as potential chairs to on the best statistics books available.
the Committee on Meetings. The committee chose me as the This year is no exception. You can build
2009 Program Chair, and my election was subsequently your library without breaking your bank.
approved by Sally Morton, our current ASA President, and Save 50% on these classic books:
the ASA Executive Board. Extending the Linear Model with R:
One of my first tasks in late 2007 was to appoint two General Wendy L. Martinez Generalized Linear, Mixed Effects and
Methods Chairs and the Poster Chair. These folks are very JSM 2009 Nonparametric Regression Models,
Program Chair Julian J. Faraway
important members of the program committee because they
help me in many ways, such as with organizing the program, Handbook of Statistical Distributions
filling in for other committee members, and more. The remaining members of the with Applications, K. Krishnamoorthy
program committee are either appointed by a member society (e.g., IMS, SSC,
etc.) or elected by their section. Generalized Linear Models with
Random Effects: Unified Analysis via
Around this same time, ASA President Morton picked the theme for our meeting, H-likelihood, Youngjo Lee,
and she chose an exciting one – Statistics: From Evidence to Policy. While sessions John A. Nedler, and Yudi Pawitan
do not have to address it, the theme is very important, as it tends to drive the con- R Graphics, Paul Murrell
tent of the invited and topic-contributed sessions.
Handbook of Parametric and
To gain experience in the process, the JSM 2009 Program Committee had to Nonparametric Statistical Procedures,
arrange some events for the previous year’s program. For example, the committee David J. Sheskin
was responsible for organizing and scheduling the roundtable coffees and lunches
for the 2008 meetings. We also started working on the invited program during this Linear Mixed Models: A Practical
same time period – one year before our JSM! Guide Using Statistical Software,
Brady West, Kathleen B. Welch, and
Then, the hard (but exciting and fun!) work begins. The partner soci- Andrzej T. Galecki
eties, the ASA sections, and other entities have a certain number of
Generalized Additive Models: An
invited sessions allocated to them. The appropriate committee
Introduction with R, Simon Wood
members can organize the sessions or solicit ideas from their
members. The representatives for the ASA sections, com- The More You Buy, The More You Save
mittees, and interest groups are allowed to submit two In addition to these books, our regular con-
invited sessions for the competition slots, and the ference-tiered discounts are available on
entire program committee votes on the ones they any book you purchase. Save 15% on one,
think should be included in the program. This 20% on two, or 25% on three and more.
was certainly a challenging and important part
of the process because the invited sessions Drawings Held Daily
are the backbone of the meetings. Come by our booth on Monday or Tuesday
and enter to win one of the $100 gift cer-
JSM 2009 - Washington, DC tificates. Come by on Wednesday for the
From Evidence to Policy story continued on pg. 7 (JSM 2009)
chance to win a $300 gift certificate.
Summer 2009

2. StatisticsNewS What’s News
NNN JSM HIGHLIGHTS NNN
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Recent Advances and the Future of Statistics Invited Papers
Missing Data in Longitudinal Studies: Strategies for Bayesian 198
Modeling and Sensitivity Analysis Brad Efron, co-author of An Introduction to the Bootstrap, exam-
- Continuing Education Course CE_02C ines The Future of Indirect Evidence.
Michael J. Daniels and Joseph W. Hogan authors of Missing Data TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
in Longitudinal Studies: Strategies for Bayesian Modeling and Monte Carlo and Bayesian Computation with R
Sensitivity Analysis teach this course. - Continuing Education Course CE_25C
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 Maria Rizzo, author of Statistical Computing with R, instructs this
Tolerance Intervals: Theory, Applications, and Computation course with James Albert.
- Continuing Education Course CE_10C Comprehensive Data Analysis Using Interactive Statistical
Presented by Kalimuthu Krishnamoorthy, author of Handbook of Graphics
Statistical Distributions with Applications with Thomas Mathew. - Continuing Education Course CE_26C
Hierarchical Modeling and Analysis of Spatial-Temporal Data: Martin Theus and Simon Urbanek present a short course based on
Emphasis in Forestry, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences their book Interactive Graphics for Data Analysis: Interactive
- Continuing Education Course CE_12C Graphics for Data Analysis.
Sudipto Banerjee and Andrew Finley give a short course based on Advances in Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Modeling Invited
Banerjee’s book: Hierarchical Modeling and Analysis for Spatial Papers 246
Data. Christopher Wikle, co-editor of the Interdisciplinary Statistics series,
Recent Advances in Bayesian Model Selection Invited Papers 3 presents A Class of Nonlinear Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Models.
David Madigan, editor of the Computer Science and Data Analysis IMS Medallion Lecture IV Invited Papers 250
series, discusses Sequential Bayesian Model Selection. Chaired by Galin L. Jones, co-author of Handbook of Markov
Introductory Overview Lecture: Largely About Largeness: Chain Monte Carlo: Methods and Applications.
Models And Views For High-Dimensional Data 41 Emerging Trends and Evidence in High-Dimensional "Omics"
Organized by Wendy Martinez, co-author of the forthcoming investigations Invited Papers 290
Exploratory Data Analysis with MATLAB, Second Edition. David B. Allison, co-editor of DNA Microarrays and Related
The Issue of High Dimensionality and Missing Data in Complex Genomics Techniques: Design, Analysis, and Interpretation of
Epidemiological Studies Invited Papers 46 Experiments, explores Biostatistics' Rise As an Empirical Science:
Nicholas P. Jewell, author of Statistics for Epidemiology, presents Genomic Research as the Leavening Agent.
Estimating and Ranking the Impact of High-Dimensional Environmental Random Effect Specification/Misspecification in Spatial/Spatio-
Risk Factors In Environmental Epidemiology. temporal Health Modeling Invited Papers 291
MONDAY, AUGUST 3 Organized by Andrew B. Lawson, author of Bayesian Disease
Mapping: Hierarchical Modeling in Spatial Epidemiology.
Dose Finding Studies: Methods and Implementation
- Continuing Education Course CE_16C WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
Frank Bretz, co-author of Multiple Comparisons Using R teaches Bayesian Methods in Medicine and Biology Invited Papers 448
this course with Jose C. Pinheiro. Organized by Wesley O. Johnson, co-author of Bayesian Ideas and
IMS Medallion Lecture II Invited Papers 96 Data Analysis: An Introduction for Scientists and Statisticians.
Chaired by Marina Meila, co-editor of the Computer Science and Statistics in Defense and National Security Roundtable with
Data Analysis series. Lunch 487
Recent Advances in Missing Data and Causal Inference Invited Organized by Jeffrey L. Solka, co-author of Exploratory Data
Papers 131 Analysis with MATLAB, Second Edition.
Geert Molenberghs, co-author of Longitudinal Data Analysis dis- THURSDAY, AUGUST 6
cusses Every Missing Not At Ranom Model for Incomplete Data Has Introductory Overview Lecture: Statistical Learning and Data
Got a Missing At Random Counterpart With Equal Fit. Joseph L.
Mining 535
Schafer, author of Analysis of Incomplete Multivariate Data,
offers Causal Modeling When the Treatment is a Latent Class. David J. Hand, co-author of ROC Curves for Continuous Data,
explores Statistical Learning and Data Mining.
JASA, Theory and Methods Invited Session Invited Papers 140
The Influence of Psychology, Cartography and Computer
Raymond J Carroll, co-author of Measurement Error in
Science on the Design of Interactive Graphics for Spatial
Nonlinear Models: A Modern Perspective, Second Edition
presents Prediction in Measurement Error Models with Aurore Statistical Data Invited Papers 540
Delaigle. Jianqing Fan, co-editor of the Monographs on Statistics Organized by Linda Williams Pickle, co-author of Visualizing Data
and Applied Probability series and Susan Schennah are discussants in Patterns with Micromaps with Daniel B. Carr. Carr presents
this session. Visualizing Patterns in Data with Micromaps in this session.
2

3. StatisticsNewS Frontiers
Harnessing the Power of Computing
Blurring the Line Between Users and Developers
Are you tapping into all that R offers? Statistical Genetics:
Operating at the intersection
By now, most statisticians recognize R as one of the
most flexible, integrated software environments for of human genetics and the
statistical computing and graphics. Its exceptional mathematical sciences
capacity for adaptability and its sophisticated presen-
The analysis of genetic data has
tation features make it the first choice of experienced
become a science unto itself, with
statisticians as well as researchers with minimal formal
statisticians taking on a critical role.
training in statistical software. Chapman & Hall/CRC
Three new titles from CRC Press
Press offers an array of books to help readers at various
capture the state of the science in
levels understand R and make use of its wide range of
this fascinating field.
applications.
Like its bestselling predecessor, A Handbook of Statistical Analyses Using R, Focusing on problems arising in the
Second Edition (August 2009) continues to offer straightforward descriptions of how to analysis of genetics and genomics,
use R and interpret the results. Authors Brian S. Everitt and Torsten Hothorn include Statistics in Human Genetics and
new chapters on graphical displays, generalized additive models, and simultaneous Molecular Biology (July 2009) pro-
inference, as well as a new section on generalized linear mixed models. In SAS and R: vides a graduate textbook of statisti-
Data Management, Statistical Analysis, and Graphics (July 2009), Ken Kleinman and cal methods used in genetics.
Nicholas J. Horton present an easy way to learn how to perform an analytical task in Author Cavan Reilly covers cluster
both SAS and R, without having to navigate through the extensive, idiosyncratic, and analysis, combinatorial optimiza-
sometimes unwieldy software documentation. Introduction to Data Technologies tion, and dynamic programming,
(March 2009), written by R guru Paul Murrell, a member of the R Development Core
along with the core topics of genome
Team, provides important information on how to work with research data. Murrell mapping, biological sequence analy-
devotes separate chapters to each computer language, including R. sis, and the analysis of gene expres-
sion arrays. He also explores
Bayesian approaches, such as hidden
“One of the core features of the R environment, which it inherited from S, is that
there is a deliberate blurring of the distinction between users and developers. The Markov models and black motif
system encourages and facilitates the development of new functionality. …new methods, along with modern tools of
developments in research are implemented in software and communicated Bayesian analysis, including Markov
between researchers much more rapidly than ever before.” chain Monte Carlo (MCMC).
—Paul Murrell
With the diversity of data and meta-
Hidden Markov Models for Time Series: An Introduction Using R (April 2009), data now available, there is
authored by Walter Zucchini and Iain L. MacDonald demonstrates how to apply increased interest in analyzing mul-
HMMs to a wide range of time series types and discusses how to employ R to carry out tiple studies beyond statistical
computations for parameter estimation, model selection and checking, decoding, and approaches of formal meta-analysis.
forecasting. In Computational Statistics: An Introduction to R (January 2009), Meta-analysis and Combining
Günther Sawitzki also illustrates how R can be employed to tackle statistical problems. Information in Genetics and
Genomics (July 2009) is the first
Unlike most guides to R, Introduction to Scientific Programming and Simulation book devoted to meta-analysis in
Using R (March 2009) by Owen Jones, Robert Maillardet, and Andrew Robinson does genetics. Addressing the complica-
not focus on the application of statistical techniques, but rather shows how to turn tions inherent in comparing and
algorithms into code. This introductory book surveys a range of useful mathematical replicating genetic studies, leading
tools that either require or are illuminated by scientific computation. Another intro- experts consider microarrays, gene
ductory text, An Introduction to Statistical Inference and Its Applications with R mapping, and proteomics while
(June 2009) by Michael W. Trosset, explains how statistical methods are used for data detailing the various techniques
analysis and uses the elementary functions of R to perform the individual steps of sta- used to analyze and combine data
tistical procedures. from different types of studies.
Most of these books offer code and supplemental material online. For more details story continued on pg. 6 (Statistical Genetics)
about any of these, or other related works, please visit www.crcpress.com.
3

4. StatisticsBooks Reading Beyond the Normal Distribution
StatisticsbookS
Recently Published and Forthcoming Titles Call for Authors:
Introductory Statistics Analysis of Messy Data
Volume 1
The Chapman & Hall/CRC Texts in
Applied Stochastic Modelling Designed Experiments, Second Edition Statistical Science Series
Second Edition George A. Milliken and Dallas E. Johnson
Byron J.T. Morgan Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA For more than a quarter of a century, this internationally recognized series has fostered
University of Kent, UK Catalog no. C3340, March 2009, 674 pp. the growth of statistical science by publishing upper level textbooks of high quality at
Catalog no. C6668, January 2009, 368 pp. ISBN: 978-1-58488-334-0, $89.95 / £54.99 reasonable prices. These texts, which cover new frontiers and developments in core
Soft Cover, ISBN: 978-1-58488-666-2 areas, continue to have a major role in shaping the discipline through the education
$59.95 / £29.99 Hidden Markov Models for Time of young scientists both in statistics and in fields where the role of statistics is becom-
Series ing increasingly important.
An Introduction to Statistical An Introduction Using R
Inference and Its Applications Walter Zucchini If you are interested in writing a textbook in statistics, please contact:
with R University of Gottingen, Germany
Michael W. Trosset Iain L. MacDonald
University of Indiana, Bloomington, USA University of Cape Town, South Africa Contact Editor: Sunil Nair, sunil.nair@informa.com
Catalog no. C9470, June 2009, 496 pp. Catalog no. C5734, April 2009, 288 pp. Series Editors: Bradley P. Carlin, brad@biostat.umn.edu
ISBN: 978-1-58488-947-2, $79.95 / £48.99 ISBN: 978-1-58488-573-3, $79.95 / £48.99
Julian J. Faraway, jjf23@maths.bath.ac.uk
Interactive Graphics for Data Introduction to Spatial Jim Zidek, jim@stat.ubc.ca
Analysis Econometrics
Principles and Examples James LeSage Martin A. Tanner, mat132@northwestern.edu
Martin Theus McCoy College of Business Administration, San Marcos,
Munich, Germany Texas, USA
Simon Urbanek Robert Kelley Pace Recently Published and Forthcoming Titles
Madison, New Jersey, USA Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA
Catalog no. C5947, January 2009, 290 pp. Catalog no. C6424, January 2009, 340 pp. Computational Statistics Environmental Statistics Data and Safety Monitoring Sample Sizes for Clinical Trials
ISBN: 978-1-58488-594-8, $79.95 / £39.99 ISBN: 978-1-4200-6424-7, $89.95 / £54.99 An Introduction to R Committees in Clinical Trials Steven A. Julious
Günther Sawitzki Statistical Detection and Jay Herson University of Sheffield, UK
Statistical Theory & Methods Computational Statistics StatLab, Heidelberg, Germany Surveillance of Geographic John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Catalog no. C7397, August 2009, 323 pp.
Catalog no. C6782, January 2009, 264 pp. Clusters Catalog no. C7037, March 2009, 191 pp. ISBN: 978-1-58488-739-3, $79.95 / £48.99
Logistic Regression Models A Handbook of Statistical ISBN: 978-1-4200-8678-2, $79.95 / £48.99 Peter Rogerson ISBN: 978-1-4200-7037-8, $89.95 / £54.99
Joseph M. Hilbe Analyses using SAS University of Buffalo, New York, USA Statistical Genetics
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Third Edition Introduction to Scientific Ikuho Yamada Bayesian Methods for Measures
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
Pasadena, USA and Arizona State University, Tempe, USA Geoff Der Programming and Simulation of Agreement Meta-analysis and Combining
Catalog no. C7575, May 2009, 656 pp. University of Glasgow, Scotland Using R Catalog no. C9357, January 2009, 324 pp. Lyle D. Broemeling Information in Genetics and
Brian S. Everitt ISBN: 978-1-58488-935-9, $89.95 / £57.99
ISBN: 978-1-4200-7575-5, $79.95 / £48.99
King's College, University of London, UK
Owen Jones, Robert Maillardet, Medical Lake, Washington, USA Genomics
and Andrew Robinson Catalog no. C3414, January 2009, 340 pp. Edited by
Applied Statistical Inference with Catalog no. C7842, January 2009, 392 pp. University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia BioStatistics ISBN: 978-1-4200-8341-5, $89.95 / £54.99 Rudy Guerra
MINITAB Soft Cover, ISBN: 978-1-58488-784-3 Catalog no. C6872, March 2009, 472 pp. Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
Sally Lesik $54.95 / £34.99 ISBN: 978-1-4200-6872-6, $79.95 / £48.99 Design and Analysis of Cluster Randomised Trials Darlene R. Goldstein
Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, USA Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Richard J. Hayes EPFL SB IMA STAT, Switzerland
Catalog no. C6583, September 2009, c. 443 pp. A Handbook of Statistical Introduction to Data Technologies Studies London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK Catalog no. C522X, July 2009, 360 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-4200-6583-1, $89.95 / £54.99 Analyses Using R Paul Murrell Third Edition Lawrence H. Moulton ISBN: 978-1-58488-522-1, $99.95 / £63.99
Second Edition The University of Auckland, New Zealand Shein-Chung Chow Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,
Regression Modeling Brian S. Everitt Catalog no. C6517, February 2009, 418 pp. Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Baltimore, USA Statistics in Human Genetics and
Methods, Theory, and Computation with King's College, University of London, UK ISBN: 978-1-4200-6517-6, $69.95 / £42.99 Carolina, USA Catalog no. C8164, January 2009, 338 pp. Molecular Biology
Torsten Hothorn Jen-pei Liu ISBN: 978-1-58488-816-1, $89.95 / £54.99 Cavan Reilly
SAS National Taiwan University, Taipei
Catalog no. C7933, August 2009, 376 pp. Text Mining University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
Michael Panik
University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA Soft Cover, ISBN: 978-1-4200-7933-3 Classification, Clustering, and Catalog no. C6684, January 2009, 760 pp. Design and Analysis of Clinical Catalog no. C7263, June 2009, 280 pp.
$54.95 / £34.99 Applications ISBN: 978-1-58488-668-6, $99.95 / £63.99 Trials with Time-to-Event ISBN: 978-1-4200-7263-1, $59.95 / £38.99
Catalog no. C1972, April 2009, 830 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-4200-9197-7, $99.95 / £60.99 Edited by Endpoints Gene Expression Studies Using
SAS and R Ashok Srivastava Translational Medicine Edited by
Data Management, Statistical Analysis, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA Strategies and Statistical Methods Affymetrix Microarrays
ROC Curves for Continuous Data Karl E. Peace
Hinrich Gohlmann and Willem Talloen
Wojtek J. Krzanowski and Graphics Mehran Sahami Edited by Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, USA
Stanford University, California, USA Dennis Cosmatos Johnson & Johnson, Beerse, Belgium
University of Exeter, UK Ken Kleinman Catalog no. C6639, April 2009, 616 pp.
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Catalog no. C5940, June 2009, 328 pp. Wyeth
ISBN: 978-1-4200-6639-5, $99.95 / £60.99 Catalog no. C6515, June 2009, 359 pp.
David J. Hand
Imperial College, London, UK Nicholas. J Horton ISBN: 978-1-4200-5940-3, $79.95 / £48.99 Shein-Chung Chow ISBN: 978-1-4200-6515-2, $89.95 / £54.99
Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North
Catalog no. K10031, May 2009, 232 pp. Carolina, USA
ISBN: 978-1-4398-0021-8, $69.95 / £42.99 Catalog no. C7057, July 2009, 351 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-4200-7057-6, $69.95 / £44.99 Catalog no. C8725, January 2009, 224 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-58488-872-7, $89.95 / £57.99
4 Free Shipping when you order online at www.crcpress.com • Enter promo code FMH33 and Save 15%. 5

5. StatisticsNewS Partners in Publishing
Scaling New Heights Through Synergy
Taylor & Francis Journals
Introducing New Design & Analysis — online and in print
Software Bundles for Pharmaceutical R&D Communications in Statistics: Simulation
and Computation and Communications in
Statistics: Theory and Methods includes
From Chapman & Hall/CRC & PharmaSoftware Solutions, Inc. papers on advance theory and methods in
the computational aspects of Probability
Sample Size Calculations in Clinical and Statistics. This pair of related journals,
Research, Second Edition & edited by N. Balakrishnan, presents formu-
lation and discussion of problems as well as
N Solution 2007 Basic
solutions in all areas of statistics, including
The Book: This second edition of a bestselling refer- graphic methods, resampling, and compu-
ence features new chapters on dose finding, microarray tationally intensive methods. In addition,
studies, and Bayesian approaches. The Software the journals provide exhaustive coverage
enables quick and easy sample size calculation and and up-to-date reviews of key topics by
power analysis. It contains all the procedures for testing publishing special issues.
equality, superiority/non-inferiority and equivalence for
comparing means, proportions, and time-to-event Sequential Analysis, edited by Nitis
data. In addition, sensitivity analyses for each procedure are also included. Mukhopadhyay, contributes to theoretical
Catalog no. K10700, $249.95 / £132.00 and applied aspects of sequential and
applied methodologies in all areas of statis-
tical science. Published
Design and Analysis of Bioavailability papers highlight the devel-
opment of new and impor-
and Bioequivalence Studies, tant sequential
Third Edition & approaches, and
BABE Solution 2008 Basic interdisciplinary
The Book: This edition of a bestseller features four articles empha-
new chapters that present a thorough account of size the method-
novel developments in the field. The Software, based ology of practical
on the book, is the first devoted to the design and value to applied
analysis of Bioavailability/Bioequivalence and features researchers and
BE assessment of in vivo Bioequivalence studies. statistical consultants.
Catalog no. K10699, $299.95 / £167.00 Best Paper Award 2008
from Journal of
Nonparametric Statistics
Statistical Genetics (continued from pg. 3) The Journal of Nonparametric Statistics and
the ASA Section on Nonparametric
One of the best tools for Statistics are pleased to give the Best
gene expression studies is the Keeping abreast of the ever-changing landscape Paper Award in 2008 to P.L. Davies and
of human genetics, CRC resources continue to M. Meise for their paper Approximating
Affymetrix GeneChip®. This
explore the latest cutting-edge research that data with weighted smoothing splines
platform is the most broadly can make a difference in the lives of many.
adopted single-color tech- published in Journal of Nonparametric
nology used in academic labs, clinics, and commercial entities. Gene Statistics Volume 20, Number 3, April
Expression Studies Using Affymetrix Microarrays (CRC Press, June 2009) pro- 2008, 207-228. This paper will be FREE to
vides a detailed and systematic introduction as well as a practical user’s guide to view online in 2009.
this promising technology, including the use of R and other software for To access the paper and for further
microarray analysis. The text also includes a wealth of information and key ter- information about these and other journals,
minology regarding microarray gene expression studies in general. please visit: www.tandf.co.uk/journals.
6

6. StatisticsNewS Pioneers
Plotting the Future
David J. Hand is a professor of statistics A key member of the development team for
at Imperial College in London, where the R and Omegahat projects, Paul Murrell is
among his diverse areas of responsibility, one of the foremost innovators of the R envi-
he is chair of Statistical Methods in the ronment. Focusing his research on statistical
Retail Financial Services Research computing and graphics, Dr. Murrell is the
Group. Dr. Hand serves as president of author of the bestselling R Graphics (2005)
the Royal Statistical Society and is a and the recently published Introduction to
Fellow of the British Academy. He has Data Technologies (February 2009). He is a
been a recipient of the Guy Medal of the Royal Statistical senior lecturer at the University of Auckland. It was at
Society, the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Auckland that he came under the influence of Robert
Award, and the IEEE ICDM Research Contributions Gentleman and Ross Ihaka—the noted R & R team that orig-
Award. He has published countless papers and more than inated the R environment—and found his path. “When I
20 books, including the newly available ROC Curves found myself writing my own plotting software to produce
for Continuous Data (May 2009), with co- charts for a psychology project report, I took it as an
author Wojtek J. Krzanowski. He also indicator of where my interests really lay.”
launched the journal Statistics and Currently, XML and its vast research potential
Computing and served a term as editor of has Dr. Murrell’s attention. As for the future
the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, of statistics, he says, “From a research per-
Series C. Dr. Hand’s broad research spective, developing software tools needs to
interests include multivariate statis- be a recognized career path in statistics so
tics, classification methods, pattern that people consider it as an option and are
detection, and the interface between rewarded for making that career choice.
statistics and computing. His influence From an educational perspective, statistics
curriculums need to formally address topics
and advice has led to improvements in
in statistical computing, so that people have
organizations ranging from banks to phar-
the necessary skills to be able to engage in soft-
maceutical companies to governments.
ware research.” Those lucky enough to assist him
or attend his lectures have ample opportunity to wit-
ness both those perspectives in practice.
JSM 2009 (continued from pg. 1)
There are also several invited session categories that are cho- You probably realize by now that I had a lot of help putting
sen at the discretion of the JSM Program Chair, such as ASA the program together, and I would like to take this opportu-
journals, outside societies, ASA committees, memorial ses- nity to acknowledge the help of many people. First, I would
sions, and Introductory Overview Lectures. The General like to thank our ASA President, Sally Morton for her excel-
Methods Chairs and I also had some lent leadership and support. The JSM
invited session slots that we could fill. I think that this is one of the important Program Committee, the General
Thus, we could somewhat shape the challenges that all members of the program Methods Chairs, and the Poster Chair
program via these selections. committee faced – organizing a balanced did the bulk of the work organizing the
program and not letting our biases and program. In particular, our JSM Poster
Most of the invited program was final- interests motivate our choices.
ized by December 2008, after which we Chair, Lara Schmidt did an outstand-
turned our attention to the contributed ing job putting together and promoting
program. Proposed invited sessions that did not make it on the poster sessions. We could not do anything without the won-
program could be converted to topic contributed sessions. derful people at the ASA Meetings Department: Donna
However, for the most part, the JSM Program Committee just Arrington, Kathleen Wert, and Steve Porzio. I want to say a
had to wait for contributed abstracts to roll in, which they did. special thank you to Donna, who was responsible for the JSM
We received approximately 500 more abstracts (on average) technical program. She was always helpful, cheerful, and
than the previous two meetings! Needless to say, this present- patient with our many questions and issues. Of course, the
ed some significant scheduling challenges to the ASA JSM could not happen without the participation of the pre-
Meetings Department and the JSM Program Committee, and senters, chairs, organizers, exhibitors, and all attendees – so
everyone did a great job handling these and many other issues. thank you for making this JSM an event to remember!
7

7. StatisticsNewS Nexus
Making the Most Out of those Complex Datasets
in the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Fit linear Large and complex datasets are becoming increasingly prevalent in the social and
models behavioral sciences. The Chapman & Hall/CRC Statistics in the Social and Behavioral
without Sciences Series makes the lives of statisticians working in the applied sciences easier by
exploring the effective and efficient use of statistical, econometric, and psychometric
intercepts methods. Two new books in the series explore the latest methods and tools in this
rapidly growing area.
in SAS
or R A. Colin Cameron joins the distinguished panel of series editors that include Andrew Gelman,
J. Scott Long, Sophia Rabe-Hesketh, and Anders Skrondal. Dr. Cameron is a professor in the
Department of Economics at the University of California, Davis and has served as the
Routines for linear models in SAS and Director of the U.C. Davis Center on Quantitative Social Science Research.
R incorporate an intercept by default.
But, what's the syntax for fitting a Emphasizing causation as a functional relationship between variables that describe
model without an intercept? This entry objects, Linear Causal Modeling with Structural Equations (2009), by Stanley A.
from SAS and R: Data Management, Mulaik, integrates a general philosophical theory of causation with structural equation
Statistical Analysis, and Graphics modeling that concerns the special case of linear causal relations. In addition to
(July 2009) will tell you. describing how the functional relation concept may be generalized to treat probabilis-
tic causation, the book reviews historical treatments of causation and explores recent
The book is designed as a bilingual developments in experimental psychology on studies of the perception of causation. In
SAS/R dictionary: If you know SAS, Multivariable Modeling and Multivariate Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences (2009)
you can look up the noint option in the Brian S. Everitt goes beyond the usual coverage of hypothesis testing to provide a full
SAS index. If you know R, you can explanation of the most useful methods for comparing and examining data in psychol-
look up the 0 operator, or if you're ogy, the social sciences, and law. He includes real data sets that provide a sampling of
unaware of how to do it in either, you the issues commonly encountered when applying statistics in practice.
can look up no intercept in the subject
index. In partnership with Stata Press, Chapman Hall/CRC offers Microeconometrics Using
Stata (2009), co-authored by A. Colin Cameron and Pravin K. Trivedi, provides an out-
standing introduction to microeconometrics and microeconometric research using
SAS Stata. Cameron and Trivedi cover specialized topics often left out of microeconomet-
proc glm data=ds; rics texts and basic introductions to Stata. They address each topic with an in-depth
model y = x1 ... xk / noint; Stata example and demonstrate how to use Stata’s programming features to implement
methods for which Stata does not have a specific command.
run;
Although interest in spatial regression models has surged
Note: The noint option works with many model in recent years, a comprehensive, up-to-date text on
statements. these approaches does not exist. Rounding out
R the collection, Introduction to Spatial
Econometrics (January 2009), presents a vari-
mod1 < –lm(y ~ 0 + x1 + ... + xk, ety of regression methods used to analyze
data=ds) spatial data samples that violate the tradi-
or tional assumption of independence
between observations. James LeSage and
mod1 < –lm(y ~ x1 + ... + xk –1, R. Kelley Pace explore recent advances
data=ds) in spatial econometric models—includ-
ing some previously unpublished
results.
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