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Multiple systems estimation (MSE) is becoming an increasingly common approach for exploratory study of underreported events in the field of quantitative human rights. In this context, it is used to estimate the number of people who died as a result of political unrest when it is believed that many of those who died or disappeared were never reported. MSE relies upon several assumptions, each of which may be slightly or significantly violated in particular applications. This article outlines the evolution of the application of MSE to human rights research through the use of three case studies: Guatemala, Peru, and Colombia. Each of these cases presents distinct challenges to the MSE method. Motivated by these applications, we describe new methodology for assessing the impact of violated assumptions in MSE. Our approach uses simulations to explore the cumulative magnitude of errors introduced by violation of the model assumptions at each stage in the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the comments and encouragement of the discussants of the periodical "The American Statistician" who helped to build the statistical field. Jay Kadane shared themes with Steve Fienberg, wherein both pointed to the origin of capture-recapture modeling in census adjustment. Fienberg review the history behind the methodology and the development of the log-linear models. Fritz Scheuren has more field experiences in creating human rights statistics.