A resolution of the ascertainment sampling problem. I: Theory (Q1088361)

This article is one of several that consider the ''ascertainment problem'' arising when families are sampled by a nonrandom sampling process. To estimate genetic parameters it is necessary to make some assumption about the process by which families enter the sample. The authors discuss the trade-off between bias and standard errors of the estimates. In particular, they show that an estimation procedure does exist which gives unbiased estimation no matter what the true ascertainment situation is, provided only that the part of the data relevant to ascertainment can be recognised. Numerical examples are given.