Journal of Biometrics & Biostatistics

Sample Size Calculation for the Modified Likelihood Ratio Test in Genetic Linkage Analysis

Abstract

Yuejiao Fu, Pengfei Li and Soowoon Chung

Mixture models provide flexible means of handling heterogeneity in data. The possible latent structure suggested by mixture model analysis should be carefully examined using designed experiments. Sample size determination is an important and difficult step in design of experiments. We investigate the sample size calculation for the modified likelihood ratio test for binomial mixture models arising in genetic linkage analysis. We obtain limiting distributions for the modified likelihood ratio test under two sets of commonly used local alternatives. A simple sample-size formula is obtained and illustrated using both simulations and a genetic linkage study for schizophrenia.