title: Power analysis for generalized linear mixed models in ecology and evolution.
abstract: 'Will my study answer my research question?' is the most fundamental question a researcher can ask when designing a study, yet when phrased in statistical terms - 'What is the power of my study?' or 'How precise will my parameter estimate be?' - few researchers in ecology and evolution (EE) try to answer it, despite the detrimental consequences of performing under- or over-powered research. We suggest that this reluctance is due in large part to the unsuitability of simple methods of power analysis (broadly defined as any attempt to quantify prospectively the 'informativeness' of a study) for the complex models commonly used in EE research. With the aim of encouraging the use of power analysis, we present simulation from generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) as a flexible and accessible approach to power analysis that can account for random effects, overdispersion and diverse response distributions.We illustrate the benefits of simulation-based power analysis in two research scenarios: estimating the precision of a survey to estimate tick burdens on grouse chicks and estimating the power of a trial to compare the efficacy of insecticide-treated nets in malaria mosquito control. We provide a freely availableRfunction,sim.glmm, for simulating from GLMMs.Analysis of simulated data revealed that the effects of accounting for realistic levels of random effects and overdispersion on power and precision estimates were substantial, with correspondingly severe implications for study design in the form of up to fivefold increases in sampling effort. We also show the utility of simulations for identifying scenarios where GLMM-fitting methods can perform poorly.These results illustrate the inadequacy of standard analytical power analysis methods and the flexibility of simulation-based power analysis for GLMMs. The wider use of these methods should contribute to improving the quality of study design in EE.
authors.affiliation: Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK ; Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow Boyd Orr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Paul C D
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow Boyd Orr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah J E
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Socinstrasse 57, PO Box, Basel, CH-4002, Switzerland ; University of Basel Petersplatz 1, Basel, CH-4003, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pie
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Müller
keywords: experimental design; generalized linear mixed model; long-lasting insecticidal net; overdispersion; precision; random effects; sample size; simulation