Logistic regression - overview
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Logistic regression | One sample $z$ test for the mean | Two sample $t$ test - equal variances not assumed |
You cannot compare more than 3 methods |
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Independent variables | Independent variable | Independent/grouping variable | |
One or more quantitative of interval or ratio level and/or one or more categorical with independent groups, transformed into code variables | None | One categorical with 2 independent groups | |
Dependent variable | Dependent variable | Dependent variable | |
One categorical with 2 independent groups | One quantitative of interval or ratio level | One quantitative of interval or ratio level | |
Null hypothesis | Null hypothesis | Null hypothesis | |
Model chi-squared test for the complete regression model:
| H0: $\mu = \mu_0$
Here $\mu$ is the population mean, and $\mu_0$ is the population mean according to the null hypothesis. | H0: $\mu_1 = \mu_2$
Here $\mu_1$ is the population mean for group 1, and $\mu_2$ is the population mean for group 2. | |
Alternative hypothesis | Alternative hypothesis | Alternative hypothesis | |
Model chi-squared test for the complete regression model:
| H1 two sided: $\mu \neq \mu_0$ H1 right sided: $\mu > \mu_0$ H1 left sided: $\mu < \mu_0$ | H1 two sided: $\mu_1 \neq \mu_2$ H1 right sided: $\mu_1 > \mu_2$ H1 left sided: $\mu_1 < \mu_2$ | |
Assumptions | Assumptions | Assumptions | |
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Test statistic | Test statistic | Test statistic | |
Model chi-squared test for the complete regression model:
The wald statistic can be defined in two ways:
Likelihood ratio chi-squared test for individual $\beta_k$:
| $z = \dfrac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{\sigma / \sqrt{N}}$
Here $\bar{y}$ is the sample mean, $\mu_0$ is the population mean according to the null hypothesis, $\sigma$ is the population standard deviation, and $N$ is the sample size. The denominator $\sigma / \sqrt{N}$ is the standard deviation of the sampling distribution of $\bar{y}$. The $z$ value indicates how many of these standard deviations $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0$. | $t = \dfrac{(\bar{y}_1 - \bar{y}_2) - 0}{\sqrt{\dfrac{s^2_1}{n_1} + \dfrac{s^2_2}{n_2}}} = \dfrac{\bar{y}_1 - \bar{y}_2}{\sqrt{\dfrac{s^2_1}{n_1} + \dfrac{s^2_2}{n_2}}}$
Here $\bar{y}_1$ is the sample mean in group 1, $\bar{y}_2$ is the sample mean in group 2, $s^2_1$ is the sample variance in group 1, $s^2_2$ is the sample variance in group 2, $n_1$ is the sample size of group 1, and $n_2$ is the sample size of group 2. The 0 represents the difference in population means according to the null hypothesis. The denominator $\sqrt{\frac{s^2_1}{n_1} + \frac{s^2_2}{n_2}}$ is the standard error of the sampling distribution of $\bar{y}_1 - \bar{y}_2$. The $t$ value indicates how many standard errors $\bar{y}_1 - \bar{y}_2$ is removed from 0. Note: we could just as well compute $\bar{y}_2 - \bar{y}_1$ in the numerator, but then the left sided alternative becomes $\mu_2 < \mu_1$, and the right sided alternative becomes $\mu_2 > \mu_1$. | |
Sampling distribution of $X^2$ and of the Wald statistic if H0 were true | Sampling distribution of $z$ if H0 were true | Sampling distribution of $t$ if H0 were true | |
Sampling distribution of $X^2$, as computed in the model chi-squared test for the complete model:
| Standard normal distribution | Approximately the $t$ distribution with $k$ degrees of freedom, with $k$ equal to $k = \dfrac{\Bigg(\dfrac{s^2_1}{n_1} + \dfrac{s^2_2}{n_2}\Bigg)^2}{\dfrac{1}{n_1 - 1} \Bigg(\dfrac{s^2_1}{n_1}\Bigg)^2 + \dfrac{1}{n_2 - 1} \Bigg(\dfrac{s^2_2}{n_2}\Bigg)^2}$ or $k$ = the smaller of $n_1$ - 1 and $n_2$ - 1 First definition of $k$ is used by computer programs, second definition is often used for hand calculations. | |
Significant? | Significant? | Significant? | |
For the model chi-squared test for the complete regression model and likelihood ratio chi-squared test for individual $\beta_k$:
| Two sided:
| Two sided:
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Wald-type approximate $C\%$ confidence interval for $\beta_k$ | $C\%$ confidence interval for $\mu$ | Approximate $C\%$ confidence interval for $\mu_1 - \mu_2$ | |
$b_k \pm z^* \times SE_{b_k}$ where the critical value $z^*$ is the value under the normal curve with the area $C / 100$ between $-z^*$ and $z^*$ (e.g. $z^*$ = 1.96 for a 95% confidence interval). | $\bar{y} \pm z^* \times \dfrac{\sigma}{\sqrt{N}}$
where the critical value $z^*$ is the value under the normal curve with the area $C / 100$ between $-z^*$ and $z^*$ (e.g. $z^*$ = 1.96 for a 95% confidence interval). The confidence interval for $\mu$ can also be used as significance test. | $(\bar{y}_1 - \bar{y}_2) \pm t^* \times \sqrt{\dfrac{s^2_1}{n_1} + \dfrac{s^2_2}{n_2}}$
where the critical value $t^*$ is the value under the $t_{k}$ distribution with the area $C / 100$ between $-t^*$ and $t^*$ (e.g. $t^*$ = 2.086 for a 95% confidence interval when df = 20). The confidence interval for $\mu_1 - \mu_2$ can also be used as significance test. | |
Goodness of fit measure $R^2_L$ | Effect size | n.a. | |
$R^2_L = \dfrac{D_{null} - D_K}{D_{null}}$ There are several other goodness of fit measures in logistic regression. In logistic regression, there is no single agreed upon measure of goodness of fit. | Cohen's $d$: Standardized difference between the sample mean and $\mu_0$: $$d = \frac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{\sigma}$$ Cohen's $d$ indicates how many standard deviations $\sigma$ the sample mean $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0.$ | - | |
n.a. | Visual representation | Visual representation | |
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Example context | Example context | Example context | |
Can body mass index, stress level, and gender predict whether people get diagnosed with diabetes? | Is the average mental health score of office workers different from $\mu_0 = 50$? Assume that the standard deviation of the mental health scores in the population is $\sigma = 3.$ | Is the average mental health score different between men and women? | |
SPSS | n.a. | SPSS | |
Analyze > Regression > Binary Logistic...
| - | Analyze > Compare Means > Independent-Samples T Test...
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Jamovi | n.a. | Jamovi | |
Regression > 2 Outcomes - Binomial
| - | T-Tests > Independent Samples T-Test
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Practice questions | Practice questions | Practice questions | |