title: Using Kendall's tau b correlations to improve variable selection methods in case-control studies.
abstract: In this manuscript we evaluate the performance of a variable selection procedure that could be used in case-control studies. This method is based on selection statistics computed from a matrix of Kendall tau b correlation coefficients. A simulation study was performed to compare the performance of this method to logistic regression, discriminant analysis, and the rank-transformed versions of these methods. For most of the situations studied the method based on Kendall tau b correlation coefficients correctly selected the variables that were related to case-control status more often than any of the other methods. We discuss the implications of the results of this study for epidemiologic research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb 60115, USA.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: O'Gorman
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Woolson
mesh_terms: D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003198:Computer Simulation; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology