The estimation of intraclass correlation in the analysis of family data

Abstract

The maximum likelihood estimator of the intraclass correlation coefficient rho in samples of unequal size from a multivariate normal distribution has been derived and compared to several other estimators, using Monte Carlo simulation. It is recommended that maximum likelihood be used if no prior knowledge concerning the value of rho is thought to be high. Fow low to moderate values of rho it is recommended that the analysis of variance estimator be used, with those families having only one member deleted from the analysis.