Use of Life-Test Data Analysis Methodology for Analyzing Undesirable Habitual Behavior

摘要

This report concerns statistical methodology used in the analysis of data consisting of failure times of samples of hardware operated under conditions equivalent to the intended usage of the hardware. Herein, this methodology is applied to sets of longitudinal data of individuals who abstain, for various periods of time, from engaging in undesirable habitual behavior. Although the behavior of interest may be of varying types, the examples given, with one exception, apply to alcoholics and problem drinkers. It is shown how application of the methodology to this of longitudinal data can be developed as a diagnostic tool for use in the treatment of addictions and undesirable habitual behavior, including identifying factors associated with unusually long remission periods, effective comparison of two or more treatment regimes, and characterization of individuals in terms of potential for rehabilitation. (Author)