Analysis of Failure and Survival Data

by Peter J. Smith

Overview

Analysis of Failure and Survival Data is an essential textbook for graduate-level students of survival analysis and reliability and a valuable reference for practitioners. It focuses on the many techniques that appear in popular software packages, including plotting product-limit survival curves, hazard plots, and probability plots in the context of censored data. The author integrates S-Plus and Minitab output throughout the text, along with a variety of real data sets so readers can see how the theory and methods are applied. He also incorporates exercises in each chapter that provide valuable problem-solving experience.

In addition to all of this, the book also brings to light the most recent linear regression techniques. Most importantly, it includes a definitive account of the Buckley-James method for censored linear regression, found to be the best performing method when a Cox proportional hazards method is not appropriate.

Applying the theories of survival analysis and reliability requires more background and experience than students typically receive at the undergraduate level. Mastering the contents of this book will help prepare students to begin performing research in survival analysis and reliability and provide seasoned practitioners with a deeper understanding of the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781584880752
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/26/2002
Series:	Chapman & Hall/CRC Texts in Statistical Science , #53
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	266
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Survival Distributions. Hazard Models. Reliability of Systems. Data Plots. Censoring and Lifetables. The Product-Limit Estimator. Parametric Survival Models under Censoring. Parametric Regression Models. Cox Proportional Hazards. Linear Regression with Censored Data. Buckley-James Diagnostics and Applications.

Editorial Reviews

"This book begins with a broad and basic introduction to methods for handling censored failure time data, applying these to both medical and reliability data. It then focuses intensively on the Buckley-James generalizations of the linear model for censored data. This is in contrast to most texts in this field, which focus the discussion of regression models on the theory and application of the proportional hazards (Cox) model. This book is of interest both as an easily comprehended introduction to survival analysis (with medical and reliability applications) and as an in-depth reference on the Buckley-James linear failure time model. … For a researcher with little background in failure time methods and with an interest in focusing on the extension of linear models to censored data, Analysis of Failure and Survival Data could be a useful contribution."
-Technometrics, November 2002

"…the depth and breadth of the coverage constitutes the novel and useful contribution of this text to the current collection of texts on survival analysis… Students new to the concepts of censored data analysis will find the first nine chapters informative and useful, and research specialists in survival analysis will find the last two chapters enlightening and broadening… Throughout the book, the material is presented clearly, and emphasis is placed on explaining the ideas that drive the methodology. …Also refreshing is the use of non-biomedical examples for illustrations…"
- Journal of the American Statistical Association, September 2003

"Throughout the text the author helpfully highlights definitions and important results and his style of writing is clear. ...this is a good book for a reader who is new to the area. …Certainly I am pleased to have a copy on my shelves."
-A. C. Kimber, Biometrics, December 2002

From the Publisher

This text for graduate students of survival analysis and reliability focuses on techniques that appear in popular software packages, including plotting product-limit survival curves, hazard plots, and probability plots in the context of censored data. S-Plus and Minitab are integrated throughout, along with a variety of real data sets so that readers can see how theory and models are applied. Linear regression techniques are also discussed, especially the Buckley-James method for censored linear regression. Chapter exercises are included. Smith is head of the Department of Statistics and Operations Research at RMIT University, Australia. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)