A linkage error correction model for population size estimation with multiple sources

Abstract

A new method is described to do population size estimation, while linkage of sources occurs with errors. Our model is derived from a linkage error correction model introduced by Ding and Fienberg (1994). They show how to use linkage probabilities to correct the capture - recapture estimator for linkage errors, but only in the case of two sources and no covariates. A generalisation is proposed by incorporating the Ding & Fienberg model into the standard log - linear modelling approach used in multiple - recapture estimation. We show how the method performs in a simulation study with data that resemble real data.