Masters Theses

Tim Jensen

Abstract

"The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between an indicator of alcohol dependence or abuse of an individual and his or her wage. This relationship is modeled as a cross-sectional observational study using data from the 1994 survey round of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY).

The observational study is based on a matching process followed by a sensitivity analysis. The individuals of the NLSY dataset are split into four groups by their ethnic and marital status for males and females separately. Within each subgroup each alcohol abuser or dependent is matched to a respondent from the control group. Together they form the matched pairs needed for the sensitivity analysis. The matching process is based on an estimated "propensity" score, which is an estimate of the probability of receiving the treatment. A general linear model of the binomial family was used to determine these estimates.

For various values of the sensitivity parameter a sensitivity analysis is done using Wilcoxon's signed rank test. The results are given as a range for the p-value since the probability of receiving the treatment, namely being in the group of alcohol abusers or dependents, is unknown.

This study did not find evidence to suggest that there is a difference in wages between participants in the treatment and control group. For comparison with the sensitivity analysis, a traditional linear regression was carried out for each subgroup. The linear regression showed a negative effect of alcohol abuse or dependence on wages in both nonwhite groups--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Bryant, Richard
Samaranayake, V. A.
Gadbury, Gary L.

Department(s)

Mathematics and Statistics

Degree Name

M.S. in Applied Mathematics

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Summer 2006

Pagination

viii, 50 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-49)

Rights

© 2006 Tim Jensen, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Alcoholism -- Economic aspectsObservation (Scientific method)Sensitivity theory (Mathematics)Wages

Thesis Number

T 8917

Print OCLC #

79476208

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