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Approximate likelihood inference in generalized linear latent variable models based on integral dimension reduction

Latent variable models represent a useful tool for the analysis of complex data when the constructs of interest are not observable. A problem related to these models is that the integrals involved in the likelihood function cannot be solved analytically. We propose a computational approach, referred to as Dimension Reduction Method (DRM), that consists of a dimension reduction of the multidimensional integral that makes the computation feasible in situations in which the quadrature based methods are not applicable. We discuss the advantages of DRM compared with other existing approximation procedures in terms of both computational feasibility of the method and asymptotic properties of the resulting estimators.