On a likelihood-based goodness-of-fit test of the beta-binomial model.
When faced with proportion data that exhibit extra-binomial variation, data analysts often consider the beta-binomial distribution as an alternative model to the more common binomial distribution. A typical example occurs in toxicological experiments with laboratory animals, where binary observations on fetuses within a litter are often correlated with each other. In such instances, it may be of interest to test for the goodness of fit of the beta-binomial model; this effort is complicated, however, when there is large variability among the litter sizes. We investigate a recent goodness-of-fit test proposed by Brooks et al. (1997, Biometrics 53, 1097-1115) but find that it lacks the ability to distinguish between the beta-binomial model and some severely non-beta-binomial models. Other tests and models developed in their article are quite useful and interesting but are not examined herein.
Garren
S T
ST
Department of Statistics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22903, USA. garren@virginia.edu
Smith
R L
RL
Piegorsch
W W
WW
D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D015233:Models, Statistical; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods*