This page shows an example of a Poisson regression analysis with footnotes explaining the output. The data collected were academic information on 316 students. The response variable is days absent during the school year (daysabs), and we explore its relationship with math standardized tests score (mathnce), language standardized tests score (langnce) and gender (female).
As assumed for a Poisson model, our response variable is a count variable, and each subject has the same length of observation time. Had the observation time for subjects varied, the Poisson model would need to be adjusted to account for the varying length of observation time per subject. This point is discussed later in the page. Also, the Poisson model, as compared to other count models (i.e., negative binomial or zero-inflated models), is assumed to be the appropriate model. In other words, we assume that the dependent variable is not over-dispersed and does not have an excessive number of zeros.
You can download the data set used in this example by clicking here .
data preg;
set "C:\temp\poisson";
female = (gender = 1);
run;
proc genmod data = preg;
model daysabs = mathnce langnce female / link=log dist=Poisson;
run;
The GENMOD Procedure
Model Information
Data Set WORK.PREG
Distribution Poisson
Link Function Log
Dependent Variable DAYSABS number days absent
Number of Observations Read 316
Number of Observations Used 316
Criteria For Assessing Goodness Of Fit
Criterion DF Value Value/DF
Deviance 312 2234.5462 7.1620
Scaled Deviance 312 2234.5462 7.1620
Pearson Chi-Square 312 2774.4139 8.8924
Scaled Pearson X2 312 2774.4139 8.8924
Log Likelihood 1482.2670
Algorithm converged.
Analysis Of Parameter Estimates
Standard Wald 95% Confidence Chi-
Parameter DF Estimate Error Limits Square Pr > ChiSq
Intercept 1 2.2867 0.0700 2.1496 2.4239 1068.59 <.0001
MATHNCE 1 -0.0035 0.0018 -0.0071 0.0000 3.74 0.0531
LANGNCE 1 -0.0122 0.0018 -0.0157 -0.0086 43.86 <.0001
female 1 0.4009 0.0484 0.3060 0.4958 68.58 <.0001
Scale 0 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 1.0000
NOTE: The scale parameter was held fixed.
Model Information
Model Information Data Seta WORK.PREG Distributionb Poisson Link Functionc Log Dependent Variabled DAYSABS number days absent Number of Observations Reade 316 Number of Observations Usede 316
a. Data Set - This is the SAS dataset on which the Poisson regression was performed.
b. Distribution - This is the distribution of the dependent variable. Poisson regression is a type of generalized linear model. As such, we need to specify the distribution of the dependent variable, dist = Poisson, as well as the link function, superscript c.
c. Link Function - This is the link function used for the Poisson regression. By default, when we specify dist = Poisson, the log link function is assumed (and does not need to be specified); however, for pedagogical purposes, we include link = log. When we write our model out, log( μ ) = β0 + β1x1 + ... + βpxp, where μ is the count we are modeling, log( ) defines the link function (i.e., how we transform μ to write it as a linear combination of the predictor variables).
d. Dependent Variable - This is the dependent variable used in the Poisson regression.
e. Number of Observations Read and Number of Observations Used - This is the number of observations read and the number of observation used in the Poisson regression. The Number of Observations Used may be less than the Number of Observations Read if there are missing values for any variables in the equation. By default, SAS does a listwise deletion of incomplete cases.
Criteria For Assessing Goodness Of Fit
Criteria For Assessing Goodness Of Fit Criterionf DFg Valueg Value/DFh Deviance 312 2234.5462 7.1620 Scaled Deviance 312 2234.5462 7.1620 Pearson Chi-Square 312 2774.4139 8.8924 Scaled Pearson X2 312 2774.4139 8.8924 Log Likelihood 1482.2670 Algorithm convergedi.
Prior to discussing the Criterion, DF, Value and Value/DF, we need to discuss the logic of this section. Attention is placed on Deviance and Scaled Deviance; the argument naturally extends to Pearson Chi-Square.
First, note that the Deviance has an approximate chi-square distribution with n-p degrees of freedom, where n is the number of observations and p is the number of predictor variables (including the intercept), and the expected value of a chi-square random variable is equal to the degrees of freedom. Then, if our model fits the data well, the ratio of the Deviance to DF, Value/DF, should be about one. Large ratio values may indicate model misspecification or an over-dispersed response variable; ratios less than one may also indicate model misspecification or an under-dispersed response variable. A consequence of such dispersion issues is that standard errors are incorrectly estimated, implying an invalid chi-square test statistic, superscript p. Importantly, however, assuming our model is correctly specified, the Poisson regression estimates remain unbiased in the presence of over-disperion or under-dispersion. Two "fixes" are either running the same model as a negative binomial regression, or correcting the standard errors of the estimates. The standard error correction corresponds to the approach for the scaled criterion. A naive explanation when the scale option is specified (scale = dscale), the Scaled Deviance is forced to equal one. By forcing Value/DF to one (dividing Value/DF by itself), our model becomes "optimally" dispersed; however, what actually happens is that the standard errors are adjusted ad hoc. The standard errors are adjusted by a factor, the square root of Value/DF.
f. Criterion - Below are various measurements used to assess the model fit.
Deviance - This is the deviance for the model. The deviance is defined as two times the difference of the log likelihood for the maximum achievable model (i.e., each subject's response serves as a unique estimate of the Poisson parameter), and the log likelihood under the fitted model. The difference in the Deviance and degrees of freedom of two nested models can be used in the likelihood ratio chi-square tests.
Scaled Deviance - This is the scaled deviance. The scaled deviance is equal to the deviance since we did not specify the scale=dscale option on the model statement.
Pearson Chi-Square - This is the Pearson chi-square statistic. The Pearson chi-square is defined as the squared difference between the observed and predicted values divided by the variance of the predicted value summed over all observations in the model.
Scaled Pearson X2 - This is the scaled Pearson chi-square statistic. The scaled Pearson X2 is equal to the Pearson chi-square since we did not specify the scale=pscale option on the model statement.
Log Likelihood - This is the log likelihood of the model. Instead of using the deviance, we can take two times the difference between the log likelihood for nested models to perform a chi-square test.
g. DF and Value - These are the degrees of freedom DF and the respective Value for the Criterion measures. The DF is equal to n-p, where n is the number of observation used and p is the number of parameters estimated.
h. Value/DF - This is the ratio of Value to DF given in superscript g. Refer to the discussion at the beginning of this section for an interpretation/use of this value.
i. Algorithm Convergered - This is a note indicating that the algorithm for parameter estimates has converged, implying that a solution was found.
Analysis Of Parameter Estimates
Analysis Of Parameter Estimates
Standard Wald 95% Confidence Chi-
Parameterj DFk Estimatel Errorm Limitsn Squareo Pr > ChiSqo
Intercept 1 2.2867 0.0700 2.1496 2.4239 1068.59 <.0001
MATHNCE 1 -0.0035 0.0018 -0.0071 0.0000 3.74 0.0531
LANGNCE 1 -0.0122 0.0018 -0.0157 -0.0086 43.86 <.0001
female 1 0.4009 0.0484 0.3060 0.4958 68.58 <.0001
Scale 0 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 1.0000
j. Parameter - Underneath are the predictor variables and the Scale parameter.
k. DF - These are the degrees of freedom DF spent on each of the respective parameter estimates. Note that the DF for the Scale parameter is set to 0. The DF define the distribution used to test Chi-Square, superscript o.
l. Estimate -These are the estimated Poisson regression coefficients for the model. Recall that the dependent variable is a count variable, and Poisson regression models the log of the expected count as a linear function of the predictor variables. We can interpret the Poisson regression coefficient as follows: for a one unit change in the predictor variable, the difference in the logs of expected counts is expected to change by the respective regression coefficient, given the other predictor variables in the model are held constant.
Also, note that each subject in our sample was followed for one school year. If this was not the case (i.e., some subjects were followed for half a year, some for a year and the rest for two years) and we were to neglect the exposure time, our Poisson regression estimates would be biased, since our model assumes all subjects had the same observation time. If this was an issue, we would use the offset option, offset=log_timevar, where log_timevar corresponds to the logged version of the variable specifying length of time an individual was followed to adjust the Poisson regression estimates.
Intercept - This is the Poisson regression estimate when all variables in the model are evaluated at zero. For males (the variable female evaluated at zero) with zero mathnce and langnce test scores, the log of the expected count for daysabs is 2.2867 units. Note that evaluating mathnce and langnce at zero is out of the range of plausible test scores. If the test scores were mean-centered, the intercept would have a natural interpretation: the log of the expected count for males with average mathnce and langnce test scores.
mathnce - This is the Poisson regression estimate for a one unit increase in math standardized test score, given the other variables are held constant in the model. If a student were to increase her mathnce test score by one point, the difference in the logs of expected counts would be expected to decrease by 0.0035 unit, while holding the other variables in the model constant.
langnce - This is the Poisson regression estimate for a one unit increase in language standardized test score, given the other variables are held constant in the model. If a student were to increase her langnce test score by one point, the difference in the logs of expected counts would be expected to decrease by 0.0122 unit while holding the other variables in the model constant.
female - This is the estimated Poisson regression coefficient comparing females to males, given the other variables are held constant in the model. The difference in the logs of expected counts is expected to be 0.4010 unit higher for females compared to males, while holding the other variables constant in the model.
Scale - This is the Scale value for the Poisson model. Since our model was not scaled (Scaled Deviance or Scaled Pearson X2), the default scale for the Poisson model is set to one. This is noted by the comment at the bottom of the output: NOTE: The scale parameter was held fixed.
m. Standard Error - These are the standard errors of the individual regression coefficients. They are used in both the Wald 95% Confidence Limits, superscript n, and the Chi-Square test statistic, superscript o.
n. Wald 95% Confidence Limits - This is the Wald Confidence Interval (CI) of an individual Poisson regression coefficient, given the other predictors are in the model. For a given predictor variable with a level of 95% confidence, we'd say that we are 95% confident that upon repeated trials, 95% of the CI's would include the "true" population Poisson regression coefficient. It is calculated as Estimate ± (zα/2)*(Standard Error), where zα/2 is a critical value on the standard normal distribution. The CI is equivalent to the Chi-Square test statistic: if the CI includes zero, we'd fail to reject the null hypothesis that a particular regression coefficient is zero, given the other predictors are in the model. An advantage of a CI is that it is illustrative; it provides information on where the "true" parameter may lie and the precision of the point estimate.
o. Chi-Square and Pr > ChiSq - These are the test statistics and p-values, respectively, testing the null hypothesis that an individual predictor's regression coefficient is zero, given that the rest of the predictors are in the model. The Chi-Square test statistic is the squared ratio of the Estimate to the Standard Error of the respective predictor. The Chi-Square value follows a standard chi-square distribution with degrees of freedom given by DF, which is used to test against the alternative hypothesis that the Estimate is not equal to zero. The probability that a particular Chi-Square test statistic is as extreme as, or more so, than what has been observed under the null hypothesis is defined by Pr>ChiSq.