Linear regression via mixed models

The "lmer" engine estimates fixed and random effect regression parameters using maximum likelihood (or restricted maximum likelihood) estimation.

Details

For this engine, there is a single mode: regression

Tuning Parameters

This model has no tuning parameters.

Translation from parsnip to the original package

The multilevelmod extension package is required to fit this model.

library(multilevelmod)

linear_reg() %>% 
  set_engine("lmer") %>% 
  set_mode("regression") %>% 
  translate()

## Linear Regression Model Specification (regression)
## 
## Computational engine: lmer 
## 
## Model fit template:
## lme4::lmer(formula = missing_arg(), data = missing_arg(), weights = missing_arg())

Predicting new samples

This model can use subject-specific coefficient estimates to make predictions (i.e. partial pooling). For example, this equation shows the linear predictor (\eta) for a random intercept:

\eta_{i} = (\beta_0 + b_{0i}) + \beta_1x_{i1}

where $i$ denotes the ith independent experimental unit (e.g. subject). When the model has seen subject i, it can use that subject’s data to adjust the population intercept to be more specific to that subjects results.

What happens when data are being predicted for a subject that was not used in the model fit? In that case, this package uses only the population parameter estimates for prediction:

\hat{\eta}_{i'} = \hat{\beta}_0+ \hat{\beta}x_{i'1}

Depending on what covariates are in the model, this might have the effect of making the same prediction for all new samples. The population parameters are the “best estimate” for a subject that was not included in the model fit.

The tidymodels framework deliberately constrains predictions for new data to not use the training set or other data (to prevent information leakage).

Preprocessing requirements

There are no specific preprocessing needs. However, it is helpful to keep the clustering/subject identifier column as factor or character (instead of making them into dummy variables). See the examples in the next section.

Other details

The model can accept case weights.

With parsnip, we suggest using the formula method when fitting:

library(tidymodels)
data("riesby")

linear_reg() %>% 
  set_engine("lmer") %>% 
  fit(depr_score ~ week + (1|subject), data = riesby)

When using tidymodels infrastructure, it may be better to use a workflow. In this case, you can add the appropriate columns using add_variables() then supply the typical formula when adding the model:

library(tidymodels)

lmer_spec <- 
  linear_reg() %>% 
  set_engine("lmer")

lmer_wflow <- 
  workflow() %>% 
  # The data are included as-is using:
  add_variables(outcomes = depr_score, predictors = c(week, subject)) %>% 
  add_model(lmer_spec, formula = depr_score ~ week + (1|subject))

fit(lmer_wflow, data = riesby)

Case weights

This model can utilize case weights during model fitting. To use them, see the documentation in case_weights and the examples on tidymodels.org.

The fit() and fit_xy() arguments have arguments called case_weights that expect vectors of case weights.

References

• J Pinheiro, and D Bates. 2000. Mixed-effects models in S and S-PLUS. Springer, New York, NY

• West, K, Band Welch, and A Galecki. 2014. Linear Mixed Models: A Practical Guide Using Statistical Software. CRC Press.

• Thorson, J, Minto, C. 2015, Mixed effects: a unifying framework for statistical modelling in fisheries biology. ICES Journal of Marine Science, Volume 72, Issue 5, Pages 1245–1256.

• Harrison, XA, Donaldson, L, Correa-Cano, ME, Evans, J, Fisher, DN, Goodwin, CED, Robinson, BS, Hodgson, DJ, Inger, R. 2018. A brief introduction to mixed effects modelling and multi-model inference in ecology. PeerJ 6:e4794.

• DeBruine LM, Barr DJ. Understanding Mixed-Effects Models Through Data Simulation. 2021. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science.