[R-sig-ME] Is it worth testing for overdispersion?

[ONKELINX, Thierry]

Dear Iker,

You can add an observation  level random effect to the model. If there is overdisperion in your dataset, then this random effect will have a non-zero variance. You can compare models with and without this observation level random effect to test for overdisperion.

Best regards,

Thierry

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: r-sig-mixed-models-bounces at r-project.org [mailto:r-sig-mixed-models-
> bounces at r-project.org] Namens Iker Vaquero Alba
> Verzonden: dinsdag 21 juni 2011 13:53
> Aan: r-sig-mixed-models at r-project.org
> Onderwerp: [R-sig-ME] Is it worth testing for overdispersion?
> 
> 
> 
>    Dear list:
> 
>    I read some time ago in one of the posts that the option of implementing
> quasi- families in lmer had been removed. Is that right?
>    I´ve been a lot of time trying to find a way to test for overdispersion in lmer
> without success. And now that I read that I won't be able to use a quasi-poisson
> distribution for my data in case the model is overdispersed assuming poisson
> errors, I wonder wether it's really worth testing for overdispersion, and what
> alternatives do I have in case my model is overdispersed.
> 
>    Thank you very much!
> 
>     Iker Vaquero
> 
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