12 blog posts from 2022 that deserve a second look

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In a previous article, I presented some of the most popular blog posts from 2022. In general, popular articles deal with elementary topics that have broad appeal. However, I also write articles about advanced topics. The following articles didn't make the Top 10 list, but they deserve a second look. I have grouped them into four categories: statistics, simulation and bootstrapping, visualization and ODS, and numerical analysis and matrix computations.

Statistics and data analysis

Optimal Box-Cox Transformation
  • Box-Cox Transformations: An assumption of least squares regression is that the residuals for the models are normally distributed. If they are not, some researchers try to apply a nonlinear transformation to the dependent (Y) variable to normalize the residuals. But what transformation should you use? The Box-Cox transformation is a process that picks a power transformation that is interpretable and that best normalizes the residuals. You can use the same process to perform a transformation that best normalizes a single variable. In SAS, you can use PROC TRANSREG to perform Box-Cox transformations and to visualize the process.
  • Partial regression leverage plots: PROC REG can create partial regression leverage plots. What are they and how do you interpret the plots? A partial regression leverage plot visualizes the parameter estimates and the null hypothesis βi=0 for each effect in the model. It also enables you to see outliers and high-leverage points for each regressor. You can also add a confidence limit for the test of the null hypothesis to the plot.

Simulation and bootstrapping

Monte Carlo Estimate of pi
  • How often do statistical tests agree?: A SAS programmer noticed that SAS supplied two statistical tests for the same null hypothesis. One of the tests rejected the null hypothesis whereas the other one failed to reject it. A simulation study can help you understand how often this situation occurs, and how you can interpret this situation.
  • Bootstrap estimates for nonlinear regression: For linear least squares regression, there are asymptotic formulas for the confidence intervals for parameters. No formulas exist for a general nonlinear regression, but you can use bootstrapping to obtain confidence intervals for the regression parameters and their covariance. The BOOTSTRAP statement in PROC NLIN makes it easy to obtain a bootstrap confidence interval for the regression parameters in a nonlinear regression model.
  • Introductory examples of Monte Carlo simulation in SAS: If you've ever thought about learning how to perform Monte Carlo simulation in SAS, this article collects 10 classic Monte Carlo examples that do not require any advanced knowledge of probability or statistics. As such, these problems are ideal for beginning learners.

Data visualization and ODS

Numerical analysis and matrix computations

Your turn

Did I omit one of your favorite blog posts from The DO Loop in 2022? Maybe you liked my heart-shaped billiard table for Valentine's Day? Of maybe you enjoyed my Pi Day article about the πth roots of unity? If so, leave a comment and tell me what topic you found interesting or useful.

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About Author

Rick Wicklin

Distinguished Researcher in Computational Statistics

Rick Wicklin, PhD, is a distinguished researcher in computational statistics at SAS and is a principal developer of SAS/IML software. His areas of expertise include computational statistics, simulation, statistical graphics, and modern methods in statistical data analysis. Rick is author of the books Statistical Programming with SAS/IML Software and Simulating Data with SAS.

2 Comments

  1. JAMES C LOUGHLIN on

    Rick,

    I am (or was) subscribed to the Do Loop. Unfortunately, the last email I received was July 25, 2022.

    When I try to subscribe again by entering my email address, a box pops up saying 'this form is not secure, autofill
    has been turned off'. Aftering entering my email address, I his 'Subscribe' and another box pops up saying 'the information
    you are about to submit is not secure'. When I press 'Send anyway', Chrome gives me another box saying, '400. That’s an error.
    The server cannot process the request because it is malformed. It should not be retried. That’s all we know.'

    How can i resubscribe to the Do Loop.

    Thanx.

    Jim Loughlin

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