
I'm trying to better understand the nlme package and have a few questions.

 

1.) 

Other than using various coding strategies (e.g., dummy coding, effect coding), is there a way to identify group membership (i.e., treatment) directly? For example, the following code will fit a two group logistic growth curve (where 'Score' is repeatedly measured over 'Time' for each of the individuals (ID)):

 

nlme(Score ~ (ALPHA + Group)/(1+exp(-(GAMMA + Group)*(Time - (BETA+Group)))),

            data=LE,

            fixed=ALPHA + BETA + GAMMA ~ 1,

            random=ALPHA + BETA + GAMMA ~ 1,

            groups=~ID,

            start = c(ALPHA = 1, BETA = 3.25, GAMMA = 2.5))

            

Rather than specifying the effect of Group in such a manner, is there a simpler way to identify group membership in order to test the effect of group differences on the parameters of the model? I thought (removing the dummy codes and) specifying group membership by: 'groups=~ID/Groups' might work, but an error is returned. I also thought specifying group membership by :'fixed=ALPHA + BETA + GAMMA ~ 1' might work, but an error is also returned.  

 

2.) 

When will, that is under what circumstances, will there be something different than '~1' on the right hand side of the 'fixed' and 'random' specification lines?

 

3.)

Given that I figure out a way to specify group membership/treatment, how are starting values for both groups specified? Can the covariance structure also be given starting values?

 

Sorry for what might turn out to be simply questions. But, as of yet I've not been able to understand exactly what is going on. Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.

Have a good one,

Ken


		
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