Abstract
Despite the widespread popularity of linear models for correlated outcomes (e.g. linear mixed models and time series models), distribution diagnostic methodology remains relatively underdeveloped in this context. In this paper we present an easy-to-implement approach that lends itself to graphical displays of model fit. Our approach involves multiplying the estimated margional residual vector by the Cholesky decomposition of the inverse of the estimated margional variance matrix. The resulting "rotated" residuals are used to construct an empirical cumulative distribution function and pointwise standard errors. The theoretical framework, including conditions and asymptotic properties, involves technical details that are motivated by Lange and Ryan (1989), Pierce (1982), and Randles (1982). Our method appears to work well in a variety of circumstances, including models having independent units of sampling (clustered data) and models for which all observations are correlated (e.g., a single time series). Our methods can produce satisfactory results even for models that do not satisfy all of the technical conditions stated in our theory.
Disciplines
Longitudinal Data Analysis and Time Series | Statistical Methodology | Statistical Models | Statistical Theory
Suggested Citation
Houseman, E. Andres; Ryan, Louise; and Coull, Brent, "Cholesky Residuals for Assessing Normal Errors in a Linear Model with Correlated Outcomes: Technical Report" (October 2004). Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series. Working Paper 19.
https://biostats.bepress.com/harvardbiostat/paper19
Included in
Longitudinal Data Analysis and Time Series Commons, Statistical Methodology Commons, Statistical Models Commons, Statistical Theory Commons