[R] Can you use two offsets in gam (mgcv)?

[Simon Wood]

Hi Alice

An offset is just a fixed vector added to the linear predictor of a 
model, so if you want to add two fixed vectors, you might as well add 
them together first. i.e. I think you want something like

off <- log(grid.cell.area) + log(detection)
gam(porpoises ~ s(covariates) + offset(off), family = "poisson")

Simon


On 17/06/13 10:17, alice.jones wrote:
> Hello,
> I have been trying to find out whether it is possible to use more than one
> offset in a gam (in mgcv).
> The reason I would like to do this is to 1) account for area surveyed in a
> Poisson model of sightings of porpoises within defined grid cells (each cell
> has a slightly different area) and 2) account for detection probability
> within each grid cell (some grid cells are further away from the observer
> than others, and this affects the likelihood of seeing the porpoises).
> I would like to specify the model as something like:
> gam(porpoises ~ s(covariates) + log(offset(grid cell area) +
> log(offset(detection), family = "poisson").  Does this seems sensible?  I am
> unsure of the way the two offsets will work together........ are they going
> to be additive? I have had a search online and looked in the Wood 2006 book,
> mgcv manual etc, but haven't managed to find anything that mentions using
> multiple offsets.
> Any advice would be very welcome.
> Cheers,
> Alice
>
>
>
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-- 
Simon Wood, Mathematical Science, University of Bath BA2 7AY UK
+44 (0)1225 386603               http://people.bath.ac.uk/sw283