De Leeuw, Jan
Researchers: Jan De Leeuw
University Affiliation: University of California Los Angeles
Email: deleeuw@stat.ucla.edu
Research Question:
Critique of statistical analyses used in desegregation research by Dr. Armor, as well as by well-known expert witnesses and researchers in desegregation litigation.
Published: 1
Journal Name or Institutional Affiliation: UCLA Department of Statistics
Journal Entry: UCLA Statistical Series 248
Year: 1997
Findings:
- DeLeeuw critiques the statistical analyses in Armor’s research on desegregation and Black-White achievement.
- Criticizes Armor’s “gap-analysis” and flawed interpretation of results when correcting for the covariates of the “Black” variable.
- Regression does not “explain” but establishes correlations between variables.
- Causal attribution as Armor concludes is not possible.
- Problems with Armor’s labeling—treats gender and race as proxies for SES.
- Gap analysis procedure is unsound. Armor does not accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of HLM and OLS.
- Armor overestimates the use, applicability, and stability of OLS.
- Armor’s analytical method artificially suppresses the regression coefficient for school level variables, makes errors that are well documented in the stats literature as fallacies of OLS (“Robinson Effect”).
- Author is internationally renown statistician and chair of UCLA Department of Statistics