Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It...

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Week 5: Simple Linear Regression Brandon Stewart 1 Princeton October 8, 10, 2018 1 These slides are heavily influenced by Matt Blackwell, Adam Glynn and Jens Hainmueller. Illustrations by Shay O’Brien. Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 1 / 101

Transcript of Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It...

Page 1: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Week 5: Simple Linear Regression

Brandon Stewart1

Princeton

October 8, 10, 2018

1These slides are heavily influenced by Matt Blackwell, Adam Glynn and JensHainmueller. Illustrations by Shay O’Brien.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 1 / 101

Page 2: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 3: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 4: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 5: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLS

F properties of OLSI Wednesday:

F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 6: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 7: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regression

F confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 8: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regression

F goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 9: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 10: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 11: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 2 / 101

Page 12: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Macrostructure

The next few weeks,

Linear Regression with Two Regressors

Multiple Linear Regression

Break Week

What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It

Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality

Thanksgiving

Causality with Measured Confounding

Unmeasured Confounding and Instrumental Variables

Repeated Observations and Panel Data

Review session timing.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 3 / 101

Page 13: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Macrostructure

The next few weeks,

Linear Regression with Two Regressors

Multiple Linear Regression

Break Week

What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It

Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality

Thanksgiving

Causality with Measured Confounding

Unmeasured Confounding and Instrumental Variables

Repeated Observations and Panel Data

Review session timing.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 3 / 101

Page 14: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Macrostructure

The next few weeks,

Linear Regression with Two Regressors

Multiple Linear Regression

Break Week

What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It

Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality

Thanksgiving

Causality with Measured Confounding

Unmeasured Confounding and Instrumental Variables

Repeated Observations and Panel Data

Review session timing.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 3 / 101

Page 15: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Macrostructure

The next few weeks,

Linear Regression with Two Regressors

Multiple Linear Regression

Break Week

What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It

Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality

Thanksgiving

Causality with Measured Confounding

Unmeasured Confounding and Instrumental Variables

Repeated Observations and Panel Data

Review session timing.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 3 / 101

Page 16: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Macrostructure

The next few weeks,

Linear Regression with Two Regressors

Multiple Linear Regression

Break Week

What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It

Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality

Thanksgiving

Causality with Measured Confounding

Unmeasured Confounding and Instrumental Variables

Repeated Observations and Panel Data

Review session timing.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 3 / 101

Page 17: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 4 / 101

Page 18: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 4 / 101

Page 19: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The population linear regression function

The (population) simple linear regression model can be stated as thefollowing:

r(x) = E [Y |X = x ] = β0 + β1x

This (partially) describes the data generating process in thepopulation

Y = dependent variable

X = independent variable

β0, β1 = population intercept and population slope (what we want toestimate)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 5 / 101

Page 20: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The population linear regression function

The (population) simple linear regression model can be stated as thefollowing:

r(x) = E [Y |X = x ] = β0 + β1x

This (partially) describes the data generating process in thepopulation

Y = dependent variable

X = independent variable

β0, β1 = population intercept and population slope (what we want toestimate)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 5 / 101

Page 21: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The population linear regression function

The (population) simple linear regression model can be stated as thefollowing:

r(x) = E [Y |X = x ] = β0 + β1x

This (partially) describes the data generating process in thepopulation

Y = dependent variable

X = independent variable

β0, β1 = population intercept and population slope (what we want toestimate)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 5 / 101

Page 22: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The population linear regression function

The (population) simple linear regression model can be stated as thefollowing:

r(x) = E [Y |X = x ] = β0 + β1x

This (partially) describes the data generating process in thepopulation

Y = dependent variable

X = independent variable

β0, β1 = population intercept and population slope (what we want toestimate)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 5 / 101

Page 23: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The population linear regression function

The (population) simple linear regression model can be stated as thefollowing:

r(x) = E [Y |X = x ] = β0 + β1x

This (partially) describes the data generating process in thepopulation

Y = dependent variable

X = independent variable

β0, β1 = population intercept and population slope (what we want toestimate)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 5 / 101

Page 24: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The population linear regression function

The (population) simple linear regression model can be stated as thefollowing:

r(x) = E [Y |X = x ] = β0 + β1x

This (partially) describes the data generating process in thepopulation

Y = dependent variable

X = independent variable

β0, β1 = population intercept and population slope (what we want toestimate)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 5 / 101

Page 25: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The sample linear regression function

The estimated or sample regression function is:

r(Xi ) = Yi = β0 + β1Xi

β0, β1 are the estimated intercept and slope

Yi is the fitted/predicted value

We also have the residuals, ui which are the differences between thetrue values of Y and the predicted value:

ui = Yi − Yi

You can think of the residuals as the prediction errors of ourestimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 6 / 101

Page 26: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The sample linear regression function

The estimated or sample regression function is:

r(Xi ) = Yi = β0 + β1Xi

β0, β1 are the estimated intercept and slope

Yi is the fitted/predicted value

We also have the residuals, ui which are the differences between thetrue values of Y and the predicted value:

ui = Yi − Yi

You can think of the residuals as the prediction errors of ourestimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 6 / 101

Page 27: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The sample linear regression function

The estimated or sample regression function is:

r(Xi ) = Yi = β0 + β1Xi

β0, β1 are the estimated intercept and slope

Yi is the fitted/predicted value

We also have the residuals, ui which are the differences between thetrue values of Y and the predicted value:

ui = Yi − Yi

You can think of the residuals as the prediction errors of ourestimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 6 / 101

Page 28: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The sample linear regression function

The estimated or sample regression function is:

r(Xi ) = Yi = β0 + β1Xi

β0, β1 are the estimated intercept and slope

Yi is the fitted/predicted value

We also have the residuals, ui which are the differences between thetrue values of Y and the predicted value:

ui = Yi − Yi

You can think of the residuals as the prediction errors of ourestimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 6 / 101

Page 29: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The sample linear regression function

The estimated or sample regression function is:

r(Xi ) = Yi = β0 + β1Xi

β0, β1 are the estimated intercept and slope

Yi is the fitted/predicted value

We also have the residuals, ui which are the differences between thetrue values of Y and the predicted value:

ui = Yi − Yi

You can think of the residuals as the prediction errors of ourestimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 6 / 101

Page 30: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The sample linear regression function

The estimated or sample regression function is:

r(Xi ) = Yi = β0 + β1Xi

β0, β1 are the estimated intercept and slope

Yi is the fitted/predicted value

We also have the residuals, ui which are the differences between thetrue values of Y and the predicted value:

ui = Yi − Yi

You can think of the residuals as the prediction errors of ourestimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 6 / 101

Page 31: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Overall Goals for the Week

Learn how to run and read regression

Mechanics: how to estimate the intercept and slope?

Properties: when are these good estimates?

Uncertainty: how will the OLS estimator behave in repeated samples?

Testing: can we assess the plausibility of no relationship (β1 = 0)?

Interpretation: how do we interpret our estimates?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 7 / 101

Page 32: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Overall Goals for the Week

Learn how to run and read regression

Mechanics: how to estimate the intercept and slope?

Properties: when are these good estimates?

Uncertainty: how will the OLS estimator behave in repeated samples?

Testing: can we assess the plausibility of no relationship (β1 = 0)?

Interpretation: how do we interpret our estimates?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 7 / 101

Page 33: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Overall Goals for the Week

Learn how to run and read regression

Mechanics: how to estimate the intercept and slope?

Properties: when are these good estimates?

Uncertainty: how will the OLS estimator behave in repeated samples?

Testing: can we assess the plausibility of no relationship (β1 = 0)?

Interpretation: how do we interpret our estimates?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 7 / 101

Page 34: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Overall Goals for the Week

Learn how to run and read regression

Mechanics: how to estimate the intercept and slope?

Properties: when are these good estimates?

Uncertainty: how will the OLS estimator behave in repeated samples?

Testing: can we assess the plausibility of no relationship (β1 = 0)?

Interpretation: how do we interpret our estimates?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 7 / 101

Page 35: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Overall Goals for the Week

Learn how to run and read regression

Mechanics: how to estimate the intercept and slope?

Properties: when are these good estimates?

Uncertainty: how will the OLS estimator behave in repeated samples?

Testing: can we assess the plausibility of no relationship (β1 = 0)?

Interpretation: how do we interpret our estimates?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 7 / 101

Page 36: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Overall Goals for the Week

Learn how to run and read regression

Mechanics: how to estimate the intercept and slope?

Properties: when are these good estimates?

Uncertainty: how will the OLS estimator behave in repeated samples?

Testing: can we assess the plausibility of no relationship (β1 = 0)?

Interpretation: how do we interpret our estimates?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 7 / 101

Page 37: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Overall Goals for the Week

Learn how to run and read regression

Mechanics: how to estimate the intercept and slope?

Properties: when are these good estimates?

Uncertainty: how will the OLS estimator behave in repeated samples?

Testing: can we assess the plausibility of no relationship (β1 = 0)?

Interpretation: how do we interpret our estimates?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 7 / 101

Page 38: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

What is OLS?

An estimator for the slope and the intercept of the regression line

We talked last week about ways to derive this estimator and wesettled on deriving it by minimizing the squared prediction errors ofthe regression, or in other words, minimizing the sum of the squaredresiduals:

Ordinary Least Squares (OLS):

(β0, β1) = arg minb0,b1

n∑i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2

In words, the OLS estimates are the intercept and slope that minimizethe sum of the squared residuals.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 8 / 101

Page 39: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

What is OLS?

An estimator for the slope and the intercept of the regression line

We talked last week about ways to derive this estimator and wesettled on deriving it by minimizing the squared prediction errors ofthe regression, or in other words, minimizing the sum of the squaredresiduals:

Ordinary Least Squares (OLS):

(β0, β1) = arg minb0,b1

n∑i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2

In words, the OLS estimates are the intercept and slope that minimizethe sum of the squared residuals.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 8 / 101

Page 40: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

What is OLS?

An estimator for the slope and the intercept of the regression line

We talked last week about ways to derive this estimator and wesettled on deriving it by minimizing the squared prediction errors ofthe regression, or in other words, minimizing the sum of the squaredresiduals:

Ordinary Least Squares (OLS):

(β0, β1) = arg minb0,b1

n∑i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2

In words, the OLS estimates are the intercept and slope that minimizethe sum of the squared residuals.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 8 / 101

Page 41: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

What is OLS?

An estimator for the slope and the intercept of the regression line

We talked last week about ways to derive this estimator and wesettled on deriving it by minimizing the squared prediction errors ofthe regression, or in other words, minimizing the sum of the squaredresiduals:

Ordinary Least Squares (OLS):

(β0, β1) = arg minb0,b1

n∑i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2

In words, the OLS estimates are the intercept and slope that minimizethe sum of the squared residuals.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 8 / 101

Page 42: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Graphical Example

How do we fit the regression line Y = β0 + β1X to the data?Answer: We will minimize the squared sum of residuals

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 9 / 101

Page 43: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Graphical ExampleHow do we fit the regression line Y = β0 + β1X to the data?

Answer: We will minimize the squared sum of residuals

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 9 / 101

Page 44: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Graphical ExampleHow do we fit the regression line Y = β0 + β1X to the data?

Answer: We will minimize the squared sum of residuals

0

1

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 9 / 101

Page 45: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Graphical ExampleHow do we fit the regression line Y = β0 + β1X to the data?Answer: We will minimize the squared sum of residuals

iii YYu

Residual ui is “part” of Yi not predicted

n

i

iu1

2

,min

10

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 9 / 101

Page 46: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Deriving the OLS estimator

Let’s think about n pairs of sample observations:(Y1,X1), (Y2,X2), . . . , (Yn,Xn)

Let {b0, b1} be possible values for {β0, β1}Define the least squares objective function:

S(b0, b1) =n∑

i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2.

How do we derive the LS estimators for β0 and β1? We want tominimize this function, which is actually a very well-defined calculusproblem.

1 Take partial derivatives of S with respect to b0 and b1.2 Set each of the partial derivatives to 03 Solve for {b0, b1} and replace them with the solutions

To the board we go!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 10 / 101

Page 47: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Deriving the OLS estimator

Let’s think about n pairs of sample observations:(Y1,X1), (Y2,X2), . . . , (Yn,Xn)

Let {b0, b1} be possible values for {β0, β1}Define the least squares objective function:

S(b0, b1) =n∑

i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2.

How do we derive the LS estimators for β0 and β1? We want tominimize this function, which is actually a very well-defined calculusproblem.

1 Take partial derivatives of S with respect to b0 and b1.2 Set each of the partial derivatives to 03 Solve for {b0, b1} and replace them with the solutions

To the board we go!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 10 / 101

Page 48: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Deriving the OLS estimator

Let’s think about n pairs of sample observations:(Y1,X1), (Y2,X2), . . . , (Yn,Xn)

Let {b0, b1} be possible values for {β0, β1}

Define the least squares objective function:

S(b0, b1) =n∑

i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2.

How do we derive the LS estimators for β0 and β1? We want tominimize this function, which is actually a very well-defined calculusproblem.

1 Take partial derivatives of S with respect to b0 and b1.2 Set each of the partial derivatives to 03 Solve for {b0, b1} and replace them with the solutions

To the board we go!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 10 / 101

Page 49: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Deriving the OLS estimator

Let’s think about n pairs of sample observations:(Y1,X1), (Y2,X2), . . . , (Yn,Xn)

Let {b0, b1} be possible values for {β0, β1}Define the least squares objective function:

S(b0, b1) =n∑

i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2.

How do we derive the LS estimators for β0 and β1? We want tominimize this function, which is actually a very well-defined calculusproblem.

1 Take partial derivatives of S with respect to b0 and b1.2 Set each of the partial derivatives to 03 Solve for {b0, b1} and replace them with the solutions

To the board we go!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 10 / 101

Page 50: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Deriving the OLS estimator

Let’s think about n pairs of sample observations:(Y1,X1), (Y2,X2), . . . , (Yn,Xn)

Let {b0, b1} be possible values for {β0, β1}Define the least squares objective function:

S(b0, b1) =n∑

i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2.

How do we derive the LS estimators for β0 and β1? We want tominimize this function, which is actually a very well-defined calculusproblem.

1 Take partial derivatives of S with respect to b0 and b1.2 Set each of the partial derivatives to 03 Solve for {b0, b1} and replace them with the solutions

To the board we go!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 10 / 101

Page 51: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Deriving the OLS estimator

Let’s think about n pairs of sample observations:(Y1,X1), (Y2,X2), . . . , (Yn,Xn)

Let {b0, b1} be possible values for {β0, β1}Define the least squares objective function:

S(b0, b1) =n∑

i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2.

How do we derive the LS estimators for β0 and β1? We want tominimize this function, which is actually a very well-defined calculusproblem.

1 Take partial derivatives of S with respect to b0 and b1.

2 Set each of the partial derivatives to 03 Solve for {b0, b1} and replace them with the solutions

To the board we go!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 10 / 101

Page 52: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Deriving the OLS estimator

Let’s think about n pairs of sample observations:(Y1,X1), (Y2,X2), . . . , (Yn,Xn)

Let {b0, b1} be possible values for {β0, β1}Define the least squares objective function:

S(b0, b1) =n∑

i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2.

How do we derive the LS estimators for β0 and β1? We want tominimize this function, which is actually a very well-defined calculusproblem.

1 Take partial derivatives of S with respect to b0 and b1.2 Set each of the partial derivatives to 0

3 Solve for {b0, b1} and replace them with the solutions

To the board we go!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 10 / 101

Page 53: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Deriving the OLS estimator

Let’s think about n pairs of sample observations:(Y1,X1), (Y2,X2), . . . , (Yn,Xn)

Let {b0, b1} be possible values for {β0, β1}Define the least squares objective function:

S(b0, b1) =n∑

i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2.

How do we derive the LS estimators for β0 and β1? We want tominimize this function, which is actually a very well-defined calculusproblem.

1 Take partial derivatives of S with respect to b0 and b1.2 Set each of the partial derivatives to 03 Solve for {b0, b1} and replace them with the solutions

To the board we go!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 10 / 101

Page 54: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Deriving the OLS estimator

Let’s think about n pairs of sample observations:(Y1,X1), (Y2,X2), . . . , (Yn,Xn)

Let {b0, b1} be possible values for {β0, β1}Define the least squares objective function:

S(b0, b1) =n∑

i=1

(Yi − b0 − b1Xi )2.

How do we derive the LS estimators for β0 and β1? We want tominimize this function, which is actually a very well-defined calculusproblem.

1 Take partial derivatives of S with respect to b0 and b1.2 Set each of the partial derivatives to 03 Solve for {b0, b1} and replace them with the solutions

To the board we go!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 10 / 101

Page 55: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

The OLS estimator

Now we’re done! Here are the OLS estimators:

β0 = Y − β1X

β1 =

∑ni=1(Xi − X )(Yi − Y )∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 11 / 101

Page 56: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Intuition of the OLS estimator

The intercept equation tells us that the regression line goes throughthe point (Y ,X ):

Y = β0 + β1X

The slope for the regression line can be written as the following:

β1 =

∑ni=1(Xi − X )(Yi − Y )∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2=

Sample Covariance between X and Y

Sample Variance of X

The higher the covariance between X and Y , the higher the slope willbe.

Negative covariances → negative slopes;positive covariances → positive slopes

What happens when Xi doesn’t vary?

What happens when Yi doesn’t vary?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 12 / 101

Page 57: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Intuition of the OLS estimator

The intercept equation tells us that the regression line goes throughthe point (Y ,X ):

Y = β0 + β1X

The slope for the regression line can be written as the following:

β1 =

∑ni=1(Xi − X )(Yi − Y )∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2=

Sample Covariance between X and Y

Sample Variance of X

The higher the covariance between X and Y , the higher the slope willbe.

Negative covariances → negative slopes;positive covariances → positive slopes

What happens when Xi doesn’t vary?

What happens when Yi doesn’t vary?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 12 / 101

Page 58: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Intuition of the OLS estimator

The intercept equation tells us that the regression line goes throughthe point (Y ,X ):

Y = β0 + β1X

The slope for the regression line can be written as the following:

β1 =

∑ni=1(Xi − X )(Yi − Y )∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2=

Sample Covariance between X and Y

Sample Variance of X

The higher the covariance between X and Y , the higher the slope willbe.

Negative covariances → negative slopes;positive covariances → positive slopes

What happens when Xi doesn’t vary?

What happens when Yi doesn’t vary?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 12 / 101

Page 59: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Intuition of the OLS estimator

The intercept equation tells us that the regression line goes throughthe point (Y ,X ):

Y = β0 + β1X

The slope for the regression line can be written as the following:

β1 =

∑ni=1(Xi − X )(Yi − Y )∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2=

Sample Covariance between X and Y

Sample Variance of X

The higher the covariance between X and Y , the higher the slope willbe.

Negative covariances → negative slopes;positive covariances → positive slopes

What happens when Xi doesn’t vary?

What happens when Yi doesn’t vary?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 12 / 101

Page 60: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Intuition of the OLS estimator

The intercept equation tells us that the regression line goes throughthe point (Y ,X ):

Y = β0 + β1X

The slope for the regression line can be written as the following:

β1 =

∑ni=1(Xi − X )(Yi − Y )∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2=

Sample Covariance between X and Y

Sample Variance of X

The higher the covariance between X and Y , the higher the slope willbe.

Negative covariances → negative slopes;positive covariances → positive slopes

What happens when Xi doesn’t vary?

What happens when Yi doesn’t vary?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 12 / 101

Page 61: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Intuition of the OLS estimator

The intercept equation tells us that the regression line goes throughthe point (Y ,X ):

Y = β0 + β1X

The slope for the regression line can be written as the following:

β1 =

∑ni=1(Xi − X )(Yi − Y )∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2=

Sample Covariance between X and Y

Sample Variance of X

The higher the covariance between X and Y , the higher the slope willbe.

Negative covariances → negative slopes;positive covariances → positive slopes

What happens when Xi doesn’t vary?

What happens when Yi doesn’t vary?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 12 / 101

Page 62: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Intuition of the OLS estimator

The intercept equation tells us that the regression line goes throughthe point (Y ,X ):

Y = β0 + β1X

The slope for the regression line can be written as the following:

β1 =

∑ni=1(Xi − X )(Yi − Y )∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2=

Sample Covariance between X and Y

Sample Variance of X

The higher the covariance between X and Y , the higher the slope willbe.

Negative covariances → negative slopes;positive covariances → positive slopes

What happens when Xi doesn’t vary?

What happens when Yi doesn’t vary?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 12 / 101

Page 63: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

A Visual Intuition for the OLS Estimator

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 13 / 101

Page 64: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

A Visual Intuition for the OLS Estimator

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 13 / 101

Page 65: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

A Visual Intuition for the OLS Estimator

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 13 / 101

Page 66: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

A Visual Intuition for the OLS Estimator

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 13 / 101

Page 67: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

A Visual Intuition for the OLS Estimator

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 13 / 101

Page 68: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

A Visual Intuition for the OLS Estimator

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 13 / 101

Page 69: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

A Visual Intuition for the OLS Estimator

+

++ + -

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 13 / 101

Page 70: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

A Visual Intuition for the OLS Estimator

+

++ + -

+ + ++ +

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 13 / 101

Page 71: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Mechanical properties of OLS

Later we’ll see that under certain assumptions, OLS will have nicestatistical properties.

But some properties are mechanical since they can be derived fromthe first order conditions of OLS.

1 The residuals will be 0 on average:

1

n

n∑i=1

ui = 0

2 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the predictor(cov is the sample covariance):

cov(Xi , ui ) = 0

3 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the fitted values:

cov(Yi , ui ) = 0

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 14 / 101

Page 72: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Mechanical properties of OLS

Later we’ll see that under certain assumptions, OLS will have nicestatistical properties.

But some properties are mechanical since they can be derived fromthe first order conditions of OLS.

1 The residuals will be 0 on average:

1

n

n∑i=1

ui = 0

2 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the predictor(cov is the sample covariance):

cov(Xi , ui ) = 0

3 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the fitted values:

cov(Yi , ui ) = 0

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 14 / 101

Page 73: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Mechanical properties of OLS

Later we’ll see that under certain assumptions, OLS will have nicestatistical properties.

But some properties are mechanical since they can be derived fromthe first order conditions of OLS.

1 The residuals will be 0 on average:

1

n

n∑i=1

ui = 0

2 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the predictor(cov is the sample covariance):

cov(Xi , ui ) = 0

3 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the fitted values:

cov(Yi , ui ) = 0

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 14 / 101

Page 74: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Mechanical properties of OLS

Later we’ll see that under certain assumptions, OLS will have nicestatistical properties.

But some properties are mechanical since they can be derived fromthe first order conditions of OLS.

1 The residuals will be 0 on average:

1

n

n∑i=1

ui = 0

2 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the predictor(cov is the sample covariance):

cov(Xi , ui ) = 0

3 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the fitted values:

cov(Yi , ui ) = 0

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 14 / 101

Page 75: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Mechanical properties of OLS

Later we’ll see that under certain assumptions, OLS will have nicestatistical properties.

But some properties are mechanical since they can be derived fromthe first order conditions of OLS.

1 The residuals will be 0 on average:

1

n

n∑i=1

ui = 0

2 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the predictor(cov is the sample covariance):

cov(Xi , ui ) = 0

3 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the fitted values:

cov(Yi , ui ) = 0

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 14 / 101

Page 76: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Mechanical properties of OLS

Later we’ll see that under certain assumptions, OLS will have nicestatistical properties.

But some properties are mechanical since they can be derived fromthe first order conditions of OLS.

1 The residuals will be 0 on average:

1

n

n∑i=1

ui = 0

2 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the predictor(cov is the sample covariance):

cov(Xi , ui ) = 0

3 The residuals will be uncorrelated with the fitted values:

cov(Yi , ui ) = 0

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 14 / 101

Page 77: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS slope as a weighted sum of the outcomes

One useful derivation is to write the OLS estimator for the slope as aweighted sum of the outcomes.

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Where here we have the weights, Wi as:

Wi =(Xi − X )∑ni=1(Xi − X )2

This is important for two reasons. First, it’ll make derivations latermuch easier. And second, it shows that is just the sum of a randomvariable. Therefore it is also a random variable.

To the board!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 15 / 101

Page 78: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS slope as a weighted sum of the outcomes

One useful derivation is to write the OLS estimator for the slope as aweighted sum of the outcomes.

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Where here we have the weights, Wi as:

Wi =(Xi − X )∑ni=1(Xi − X )2

This is important for two reasons. First, it’ll make derivations latermuch easier. And second, it shows that is just the sum of a randomvariable. Therefore it is also a random variable.

To the board!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 15 / 101

Page 79: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS slope as a weighted sum of the outcomes

One useful derivation is to write the OLS estimator for the slope as aweighted sum of the outcomes.

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Where here we have the weights, Wi as:

Wi =(Xi − X )∑ni=1(Xi − X )2

This is important for two reasons. First, it’ll make derivations latermuch easier. And second, it shows that is just the sum of a randomvariable. Therefore it is also a random variable.

To the board!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 15 / 101

Page 80: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS slope as a weighted sum of the outcomes

One useful derivation is to write the OLS estimator for the slope as aweighted sum of the outcomes.

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Where here we have the weights, Wi as:

Wi =(Xi − X )∑ni=1(Xi − X )2

This is important for two reasons. First, it’ll make derivations latermuch easier. And second, it shows that is just the sum of a randomvariable. Therefore it is also a random variable.

To the board!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 15 / 101

Page 81: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS slope as a weighted sum of the outcomes

One useful derivation is to write the OLS estimator for the slope as aweighted sum of the outcomes.

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Where here we have the weights, Wi as:

Wi =(Xi − X )∑ni=1(Xi − X )2

This is important for two reasons. First, it’ll make derivations latermuch easier. And second, it shows that is just the sum of a randomvariable. Therefore it is also a random variable.

To the board!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 15 / 101

Page 82: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 16 / 101

Page 83: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 16 / 101

Page 84: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

Page 85: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

Page 86: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

Page 87: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

Page 88: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

Page 89: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

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Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

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Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

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Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

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Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

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Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interest

I See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

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Sampling distribution of the OLS estimator

Remember: OLS is an estimator—it’s a machine that we plug datainto and we get out estimates.

OLS

Sample 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)1

Sample 2: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)2

......

Sample k − 1: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k−1

Sample k: {(Y1,X1), . . . , (Yn,Xn)} (β0, β1)k

Just like the sample mean, sample difference in means, or the samplevariance

It has a sampling distribution, with a sampling variance/standarderror, etc.

Let’s take a simulation approach to demonstrate:

I Pretend that the AJR data represents the population of interestI See how the line varies from sample to sample

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 17 / 101

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Simulation procedure

1 Draw a random sample of size n = 30 with replacement usingsample()

2 Use lm() to calculate the OLS estimates of the slope and intercept3 Plot the estimated regression line

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 18 / 101

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Simulation procedure

1 Draw a random sample of size n = 30 with replacement usingsample()

2 Use lm() to calculate the OLS estimates of the slope and intercept3 Plot the estimated regression line

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 18 / 101

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Simulation procedure

1 Draw a random sample of size n = 30 with replacement usingsample()

2 Use lm() to calculate the OLS estimates of the slope and intercept

3 Plot the estimated regression line

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 18 / 101

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Simulation procedure

1 Draw a random sample of size n = 30 with replacement usingsample()

2 Use lm() to calculate the OLS estimates of the slope and intercept3 Plot the estimated regression line

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 18 / 101

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Population Regression

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 19 / 101

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Randomly sample from AJR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 20 / 101

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Randomly sample from AJR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 20 / 101

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Randomly sample from AJR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 20 / 101

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Randomly sample from AJR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 20 / 101

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Randomly sample from AJR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 20 / 101

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Randomly sample from AJR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 20 / 101

Page 107: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Randomly sample from AJR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 20 / 101

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Sampling distribution of OLS

You can see that the estimated slopes and intercepts vary from sampleto sample, but that the “average” of the lines looks about right.

Sampling distribution of intercepts

β0

Freq

uenc

y

6 8 10 12 14

010

030

0

Sampling distribution of slopes

β1

Freq

uenc

y

-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5

010

030

0

Is this unique?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 21 / 101

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Sampling distribution of OLS

You can see that the estimated slopes and intercepts vary from sampleto sample, but that the “average” of the lines looks about right.

Sampling distribution of intercepts

β0

Freq

uenc

y

6 8 10 12 14

010

030

0

Sampling distribution of slopes

β1

Freq

uenc

y-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5

010

030

0

Is this unique?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 21 / 101

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Sampling distribution of OLS

You can see that the estimated slopes and intercepts vary from sampleto sample, but that the “average” of the lines looks about right.

Sampling distribution of intercepts

β0

Freq

uenc

y

6 8 10 12 14

010

030

0

Sampling distribution of slopes

β1

Freq

uenc

y-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5

010

030

0

Is this unique?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 21 / 101

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Assumptions for unbiasedness of the sample mean

What assumptions did we make to prove that the sample mean wasunbiased?

E[X ] = µ

Just one: random sample

We’ll need more than this for the regression case

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 22 / 101

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Assumptions for unbiasedness of the sample mean

What assumptions did we make to prove that the sample mean wasunbiased?

E[X ] = µ

Just one: random sample

We’ll need more than this for the regression case

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 22 / 101

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Assumptions for unbiasedness of the sample mean

What assumptions did we make to prove that the sample mean wasunbiased?

E[X ] = µ

Just one: random sample

We’ll need more than this for the regression case

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 22 / 101

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Assumptions for unbiasedness of the sample mean

What assumptions did we make to prove that the sample mean wasunbiased?

E[X ] = µ

Just one: random sample

We’ll need more than this for the regression case

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 22 / 101

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Our goal

What is the sampling distribution of the OLS slope?

β1 ∼?(?, ?)

We need fill in those ?s.

We’ll start with the mean of the sampling distribution. Is theestimator centered at the true value, β1?

Most of our derivations will be in terms of the slope but they apply tothe intercept as well.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 23 / 101

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Our goal

What is the sampling distribution of the OLS slope?

β1 ∼?(?, ?)

We need fill in those ?s.

We’ll start with the mean of the sampling distribution. Is theestimator centered at the true value, β1?

Most of our derivations will be in terms of the slope but they apply tothe intercept as well.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 23 / 101

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Our goal

What is the sampling distribution of the OLS slope?

β1 ∼?(?, ?)

We need fill in those ?s.

We’ll start with the mean of the sampling distribution. Is theestimator centered at the true value, β1?

Most of our derivations will be in terms of the slope but they apply tothe intercept as well.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 23 / 101

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Our goal

What is the sampling distribution of the OLS slope?

β1 ∼?(?, ?)

We need fill in those ?s.

We’ll start with the mean of the sampling distribution. Is theestimator centered at the true value, β1?

Most of our derivations will be in terms of the slope but they apply tothe intercept as well.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 23 / 101

Page 119: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Our goal

What is the sampling distribution of the OLS slope?

β1 ∼?(?, ?)

We need fill in those ?s.

We’ll start with the mean of the sampling distribution. Is theestimator centered at the true value, β1?

Most of our derivations will be in terms of the slope but they apply tothe intercept as well.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 23 / 101

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OLS Assumptions Preview

1 Linearity in Parameters: The population model is linear in itsparameters and correctly specified

2 Random Sampling: The observed data represent a random samplefrom the population described by the model.

3 Variation in X : There is variation in the explanatory variable.

4 Zero conditional mean: Expected value of the error term is zeroconditional on all values of the explanatory variable

5 Homoskedasticity: The error term has the same variance conditionalon all values of the explanatory variable.

6 Normality: The error term is independent of the explanatory variablesand normally distributed.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 24 / 101

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OLS Assumptions Preview

1 Linearity in Parameters: The population model is linear in itsparameters and correctly specified

2 Random Sampling: The observed data represent a random samplefrom the population described by the model.

3 Variation in X : There is variation in the explanatory variable.

4 Zero conditional mean: Expected value of the error term is zeroconditional on all values of the explanatory variable

5 Homoskedasticity: The error term has the same variance conditionalon all values of the explanatory variable.

6 Normality: The error term is independent of the explanatory variablesand normally distributed.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 24 / 101

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OLS Assumptions Preview

1 Linearity in Parameters: The population model is linear in itsparameters and correctly specified

2 Random Sampling: The observed data represent a random samplefrom the population described by the model.

3 Variation in X : There is variation in the explanatory variable.

4 Zero conditional mean: Expected value of the error term is zeroconditional on all values of the explanatory variable

5 Homoskedasticity: The error term has the same variance conditionalon all values of the explanatory variable.

6 Normality: The error term is independent of the explanatory variablesand normally distributed.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 24 / 101

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OLS Assumptions Preview

1 Linearity in Parameters: The population model is linear in itsparameters and correctly specified

2 Random Sampling: The observed data represent a random samplefrom the population described by the model.

3 Variation in X : There is variation in the explanatory variable.

4 Zero conditional mean: Expected value of the error term is zeroconditional on all values of the explanatory variable

5 Homoskedasticity: The error term has the same variance conditionalon all values of the explanatory variable.

6 Normality: The error term is independent of the explanatory variablesand normally distributed.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 24 / 101

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OLS Assumptions Preview

1 Linearity in Parameters: The population model is linear in itsparameters and correctly specified

2 Random Sampling: The observed data represent a random samplefrom the population described by the model.

3 Variation in X : There is variation in the explanatory variable.

4 Zero conditional mean: Expected value of the error term is zeroconditional on all values of the explanatory variable

5 Homoskedasticity: The error term has the same variance conditionalon all values of the explanatory variable.

6 Normality: The error term is independent of the explanatory variablesand normally distributed.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 24 / 101

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OLS Assumptions Preview

1 Linearity in Parameters: The population model is linear in itsparameters and correctly specified

2 Random Sampling: The observed data represent a random samplefrom the population described by the model.

3 Variation in X : There is variation in the explanatory variable.

4 Zero conditional mean: Expected value of the error term is zeroconditional on all values of the explanatory variable

5 Homoskedasticity: The error term has the same variance conditionalon all values of the explanatory variable.

6 Normality: The error term is independent of the explanatory variablesand normally distributed.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 24 / 101

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OLS Assumptions Preview

1 Linearity in Parameters: The population model is linear in itsparameters and correctly specified

2 Random Sampling: The observed data represent a random samplefrom the population described by the model.

3 Variation in X : There is variation in the explanatory variable.

4 Zero conditional mean: Expected value of the error term is zeroconditional on all values of the explanatory variable

5 Homoskedasticity: The error term has the same variance conditionalon all values of the explanatory variable.

6 Normality: The error term is independent of the explanatory variablesand normally distributed.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 24 / 101

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Hierarchy of OLS Assumptions

!"#$%&'(%)$*+(,(*+#-'./0%)$*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

3$4/(-#"$#--*5)$-/-,#$'6*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

@(A--B?(.C)D*EF<3GH*I-680,)%'*!$J#.#$'#*************

EK*($"*!LH"

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

5:(--/'(:*<?*EF3GH*98(::B9(80:#*!$J#.#$'#***

E,*($"*NH*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

O).8(:/,6*)J*G..).-*

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 25 / 101

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Hierarchy of OLS Assumptions

!"#$%&'(%)$*+(,(*+#-'./0%)$*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

3$4/(-#"$#--*5)$-/-,#$'6*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

@(A--B?(.C)D*EF<3GH*I-680,)%'*!$J#.#$'#*************

EK*($"*!LH"

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

5:(--/'(:*<?*EF3GH*98(::B9(80:#*!$J#.#$'#***

E,*($"*NH*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

O).8(:/,6*)J*G..).-*

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 25 / 101

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OLS Assumption I

Assumption (I. Linearity in Parameters)

The population regression model is linear in its parameters and correctlyspecified as:

Y = β0 + β1X1 + u

Note that it can be nonlinear in variablesI OK: Y = β0 + β1X + u or

Y = β0 + β1X2 + u or

Y = β0 + β1log(X ) + uI Not OK: Y = β0 + β2

1X + u orY = β0 + exp(β1)X + u

β0, β1: Population parameters — fixed and unknown

u: Unobserved random variable with E [u] = 0 — captures all otherfactors influencing Y other than X

We assume this to be the structural model, i.e., the model describingthe true process generating Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 26 / 101

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OLS Assumption I

Assumption (I. Linearity in Parameters)

The population regression model is linear in its parameters and correctlyspecified as:

Y = β0 + β1X1 + u

Note that it can be nonlinear in variablesI OK: Y = β0 + β1X + u or

Y = β0 + β1X2 + u or

Y = β0 + β1log(X ) + uI Not OK: Y = β0 + β2

1X + u orY = β0 + exp(β1)X + u

β0, β1: Population parameters — fixed and unknown

u: Unobserved random variable with E [u] = 0 — captures all otherfactors influencing Y other than X

We assume this to be the structural model, i.e., the model describingthe true process generating Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 26 / 101

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OLS Assumption I

Assumption (I. Linearity in Parameters)

The population regression model is linear in its parameters and correctlyspecified as:

Y = β0 + β1X1 + u

Note that it can be nonlinear in variables

I OK: Y = β0 + β1X + u orY = β0 + β1X

2 + u orY = β0 + β1log(X ) + u

I Not OK: Y = β0 + β21X + u or

Y = β0 + exp(β1)X + u

β0, β1: Population parameters — fixed and unknown

u: Unobserved random variable with E [u] = 0 — captures all otherfactors influencing Y other than X

We assume this to be the structural model, i.e., the model describingthe true process generating Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 26 / 101

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OLS Assumption I

Assumption (I. Linearity in Parameters)

The population regression model is linear in its parameters and correctlyspecified as:

Y = β0 + β1X1 + u

Note that it can be nonlinear in variablesI OK: Y = β0 + β1X + u or

Y = β0 + β1X2 + u or

Y = β0 + β1log(X ) + u

I Not OK: Y = β0 + β21X + u or

Y = β0 + exp(β1)X + u

β0, β1: Population parameters — fixed and unknown

u: Unobserved random variable with E [u] = 0 — captures all otherfactors influencing Y other than X

We assume this to be the structural model, i.e., the model describingthe true process generating Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 26 / 101

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OLS Assumption I

Assumption (I. Linearity in Parameters)

The population regression model is linear in its parameters and correctlyspecified as:

Y = β0 + β1X1 + u

Note that it can be nonlinear in variablesI OK: Y = β0 + β1X + u or

Y = β0 + β1X2 + u or

Y = β0 + β1log(X ) + uI Not OK: Y = β0 + β2

1X + u orY = β0 + exp(β1)X + u

β0, β1: Population parameters — fixed and unknown

u: Unobserved random variable with E [u] = 0 — captures all otherfactors influencing Y other than X

We assume this to be the structural model, i.e., the model describingthe true process generating Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 26 / 101

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OLS Assumption I

Assumption (I. Linearity in Parameters)

The population regression model is linear in its parameters and correctlyspecified as:

Y = β0 + β1X1 + u

Note that it can be nonlinear in variablesI OK: Y = β0 + β1X + u or

Y = β0 + β1X2 + u or

Y = β0 + β1log(X ) + uI Not OK: Y = β0 + β2

1X + u orY = β0 + exp(β1)X + u

β0, β1: Population parameters — fixed and unknown

u: Unobserved random variable with E [u] = 0 — captures all otherfactors influencing Y other than X

We assume this to be the structural model, i.e., the model describingthe true process generating Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 26 / 101

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OLS Assumption I

Assumption (I. Linearity in Parameters)

The population regression model is linear in its parameters and correctlyspecified as:

Y = β0 + β1X1 + u

Note that it can be nonlinear in variablesI OK: Y = β0 + β1X + u or

Y = β0 + β1X2 + u or

Y = β0 + β1log(X ) + uI Not OK: Y = β0 + β2

1X + u orY = β0 + exp(β1)X + u

β0, β1: Population parameters — fixed and unknown

u: Unobserved random variable with E [u] = 0 — captures all otherfactors influencing Y other than X

We assume this to be the structural model, i.e., the model describingthe true process generating Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 26 / 101

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OLS Assumption I

Assumption (I. Linearity in Parameters)

The population regression model is linear in its parameters and correctlyspecified as:

Y = β0 + β1X1 + u

Note that it can be nonlinear in variablesI OK: Y = β0 + β1X + u or

Y = β0 + β1X2 + u or

Y = β0 + β1log(X ) + uI Not OK: Y = β0 + β2

1X + u orY = β0 + exp(β1)X + u

β0, β1: Population parameters — fixed and unknown

u: Unobserved random variable with E [u] = 0 — captures all otherfactors influencing Y other than X

We assume this to be the structural model, i.e., the model describingthe true process generating Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 26 / 101

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OLS Assumption II

Assumption (II. Random Sampling)

The observed data:(yi , xi ) for i = 1, ..., n

represent an i.i.d. random sample of size n following the population model.

Data examples consistent with this assumption:

A cross-sectional survey where the units are sampled randomly

Potential Violations:

Time series data (regressor values may exhibit persistence)

Sample selection problems (sample not representative of thepopulation)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 27 / 101

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OLS Assumption II

Assumption (II. Random Sampling)

The observed data:(yi , xi ) for i = 1, ..., n

represent an i.i.d. random sample of size n following the population model.

Data examples consistent with this assumption:

A cross-sectional survey where the units are sampled randomly

Potential Violations:

Time series data (regressor values may exhibit persistence)

Sample selection problems (sample not representative of thepopulation)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 27 / 101

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OLS Assumption II

Assumption (II. Random Sampling)

The observed data:(yi , xi ) for i = 1, ..., n

represent an i.i.d. random sample of size n following the population model.

Data examples consistent with this assumption:

A cross-sectional survey where the units are sampled randomly

Potential Violations:

Time series data (regressor values may exhibit persistence)

Sample selection problems (sample not representative of thepopulation)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 27 / 101

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OLS Assumption II

Assumption (II. Random Sampling)

The observed data:(yi , xi ) for i = 1, ..., n

represent an i.i.d. random sample of size n following the population model.

Data examples consistent with this assumption:

A cross-sectional survey where the units are sampled randomly

Potential Violations:

Time series data (regressor values may exhibit persistence)

Sample selection problems (sample not representative of thepopulation)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 27 / 101

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OLS Assumption II

Assumption (II. Random Sampling)

The observed data:(yi , xi ) for i = 1, ..., n

represent an i.i.d. random sample of size n following the population model.

Data examples consistent with this assumption:

A cross-sectional survey where the units are sampled randomly

Potential Violations:

Time series data (regressor values may exhibit persistence)

Sample selection problems (sample not representative of thepopulation)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 27 / 101

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OLS Assumption II

Assumption (II. Random Sampling)

The observed data:(yi , xi ) for i = 1, ..., n

represent an i.i.d. random sample of size n following the population model.

Data examples consistent with this assumption:

A cross-sectional survey where the units are sampled randomly

Potential Violations:

Time series data (regressor values may exhibit persistence)

Sample selection problems (sample not representative of thepopulation)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 27 / 101

Page 143: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS Assumption II

Assumption (II. Random Sampling)

The observed data:(yi , xi ) for i = 1, ..., n

represent an i.i.d. random sample of size n following the population model.

Data examples consistent with this assumption:

A cross-sectional survey where the units are sampled randomly

Potential Violations:

Time series data (regressor values may exhibit persistence)

Sample selection problems (sample not representative of thepopulation)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 27 / 101

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OLS Assumption III

Assumption (III. Variation in X ; a.k.a. No Perfect Collinearity)

The observed data:xi for i = 1, ..., n

are not all the same value.

Satisfied as long as there is some variation in the regressor X in thesample.

Why do we need this?

β1 =

∑ni=1(xi − x)(yi − y)∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

This assumption is needed just to calculate β.

Only assumption needed for using OLS as a pure data summary.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 28 / 101

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OLS Assumption III

Assumption (III. Variation in X ; a.k.a. No Perfect Collinearity)

The observed data:xi for i = 1, ..., n

are not all the same value.

Satisfied as long as there is some variation in the regressor X in thesample.

Why do we need this?

β1 =

∑ni=1(xi − x)(yi − y)∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

This assumption is needed just to calculate β.

Only assumption needed for using OLS as a pure data summary.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 28 / 101

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OLS Assumption III

Assumption (III. Variation in X ; a.k.a. No Perfect Collinearity)

The observed data:xi for i = 1, ..., n

are not all the same value.

Satisfied as long as there is some variation in the regressor X in thesample.

Why do we need this?

β1 =

∑ni=1(xi − x)(yi − y)∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

This assumption is needed just to calculate β.

Only assumption needed for using OLS as a pure data summary.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 28 / 101

Page 147: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS Assumption III

Assumption (III. Variation in X ; a.k.a. No Perfect Collinearity)

The observed data:xi for i = 1, ..., n

are not all the same value.

Satisfied as long as there is some variation in the regressor X in thesample.

Why do we need this?

β1 =

∑ni=1(xi − x)(yi − y)∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

This assumption is needed just to calculate β.

Only assumption needed for using OLS as a pure data summary.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 28 / 101

Page 148: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS Assumption III

Assumption (III. Variation in X ; a.k.a. No Perfect Collinearity)

The observed data:xi for i = 1, ..., n

are not all the same value.

Satisfied as long as there is some variation in the regressor X in thesample.

Why do we need this?

β1 =

∑ni=1(xi − x)(yi − y)∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

This assumption is needed just to calculate β.

Only assumption needed for using OLS as a pure data summary.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 28 / 101

Page 149: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS Assumption III

Assumption (III. Variation in X ; a.k.a. No Perfect Collinearity)

The observed data:xi for i = 1, ..., n

are not all the same value.

Satisfied as long as there is some variation in the regressor X in thesample.

Why do we need this?

β1 =

∑ni=1(xi − x)(yi − y)∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

This assumption is needed just to calculate β.

Only assumption needed for using OLS as a pure data summary.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 28 / 101

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Stuck in a moment

Why does this matter?

How would you draw the line of best fitthrough this scatterplot, which is a violation of this assumption?

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

-2-1

01

X

Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 29 / 101

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Stuck in a moment

Why does this matter?

How would you draw the line of best fitthrough this scatterplot, which is a violation of this assumption?

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

-2-1

01

X

Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 29 / 101

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Stuck in a moment

Why does this matter? How would you draw the line of best fitthrough this scatterplot, which is a violation of this assumption?

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

-2-1

01

X

Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 29 / 101

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OLS Assumption IV

Assumption (IV. Zero Conditional Mean)

The expected value of the error term is zero conditional on any value of theexplanatory variable:

E [u|X ] = 0

E [u|X ] = 0 implies a slightly weaker condition Cov(X , u) = 0

Given random sampling, E [u|X ] = 0 also implies E [ui |xi ] = 0 for all i

How does this assumption get violated? Let’s generate data from the followingmodel:

Yi = 1 + 0.5Xi + ui

But let’s compare two situations:

1 Where the mean of ui depends on Xi (they are correlated)2 No relationship between them (satisfies the assumption)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 30 / 101

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OLS Assumption IV

Assumption (IV. Zero Conditional Mean)

The expected value of the error term is zero conditional on any value of theexplanatory variable:

E [u|X ] = 0

E [u|X ] = 0 implies a slightly weaker condition Cov(X , u) = 0

Given random sampling, E [u|X ] = 0 also implies E [ui |xi ] = 0 for all i

How does this assumption get violated? Let’s generate data from the followingmodel:

Yi = 1 + 0.5Xi + ui

But let’s compare two situations:

1 Where the mean of ui depends on Xi (they are correlated)2 No relationship between them (satisfies the assumption)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 30 / 101

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OLS Assumption IV

Assumption (IV. Zero Conditional Mean)

The expected value of the error term is zero conditional on any value of theexplanatory variable:

E [u|X ] = 0

E [u|X ] = 0 implies a slightly weaker condition Cov(X , u) = 0

Given random sampling, E [u|X ] = 0 also implies E [ui |xi ] = 0 for all i

How does this assumption get violated? Let’s generate data from the followingmodel:

Yi = 1 + 0.5Xi + ui

But let’s compare two situations:

1 Where the mean of ui depends on Xi (they are correlated)2 No relationship between them (satisfies the assumption)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 30 / 101

Page 156: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS Assumption IV

Assumption (IV. Zero Conditional Mean)

The expected value of the error term is zero conditional on any value of theexplanatory variable:

E [u|X ] = 0

E [u|X ] = 0 implies a slightly weaker condition Cov(X , u) = 0

Given random sampling, E [u|X ] = 0 also implies E [ui |xi ] = 0 for all i

How does this assumption get violated? Let’s generate data from the followingmodel:

Yi = 1 + 0.5Xi + ui

But let’s compare two situations:

1 Where the mean of ui depends on Xi (they are correlated)2 No relationship between them (satisfies the assumption)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 30 / 101

Page 157: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS Assumption IV

Assumption (IV. Zero Conditional Mean)

The expected value of the error term is zero conditional on any value of theexplanatory variable:

E [u|X ] = 0

E [u|X ] = 0 implies a slightly weaker condition Cov(X , u) = 0

Given random sampling, E [u|X ] = 0 also implies E [ui |xi ] = 0 for all i

How does this assumption get violated? Let’s generate data from the followingmodel:

Yi = 1 + 0.5Xi + ui

But let’s compare two situations:

1 Where the mean of ui depends on Xi (they are correlated)2 No relationship between them (satisfies the assumption)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 30 / 101

Page 158: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS Assumption IV

Assumption (IV. Zero Conditional Mean)

The expected value of the error term is zero conditional on any value of theexplanatory variable:

E [u|X ] = 0

E [u|X ] = 0 implies a slightly weaker condition Cov(X , u) = 0

Given random sampling, E [u|X ] = 0 also implies E [ui |xi ] = 0 for all i

How does this assumption get violated? Let’s generate data from the followingmodel:

Yi = 1 + 0.5Xi + ui

But let’s compare two situations:

1 Where the mean of ui depends on Xi (they are correlated)

2 No relationship between them (satisfies the assumption)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 30 / 101

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OLS Assumption IV

Assumption (IV. Zero Conditional Mean)

The expected value of the error term is zero conditional on any value of theexplanatory variable:

E [u|X ] = 0

E [u|X ] = 0 implies a slightly weaker condition Cov(X , u) = 0

Given random sampling, E [u|X ] = 0 also implies E [ui |xi ] = 0 for all i

How does this assumption get violated? Let’s generate data from the followingmodel:

Yi = 1 + 0.5Xi + ui

But let’s compare two situations:

1 Where the mean of ui depends on Xi (they are correlated)2 No relationship between them (satisfies the assumption)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 30 / 101

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Violating the zero conditional mean assumption

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

-2-1

01

23

45

Assumption 4 violated

X

Y

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3-2

-10

12

34

5

Assumption 4 not violated

X

Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 31 / 101

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Unbiasedness (to the blackboard)With Assumptions 1-4, we can show that the OLS estimator for the slopeis unbiased, that is E [β1] = β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 32 / 101

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Unbiasedness (to the blackboard)With Assumptions 1-4, we can show that the OLS estimator for the slopeis unbiased, that is E [β1] = β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 32 / 101

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Unbiasedness of OLS

Theorem (Unbiasedness of OLS)

Given OLS Assumptions I–IV:

E [β0] = β0 and E [β1] = β1

The sampling distributions of the estimators β1 and β0 are centered aboutthe true population parameter values β1 and β0.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 33 / 101

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Where are we?

Now we know that, under Assumptions 1-4, we know that

β1 ∼?(β1, ?)

That is we know that the sampling distribution is centered on thetrue population slope, but we don’t know the population variance.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 34 / 101

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Where are we?

Now we know that, under Assumptions 1-4, we know that

β1 ∼?(β1, ?)

That is we know that the sampling distribution is centered on thetrue population slope, but we don’t know the population variance.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 34 / 101

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Where are we?

Now we know that, under Assumptions 1-4, we know that

β1 ∼?(β1, ?)

That is we know that the sampling distribution is centered on thetrue population slope, but we don’t know the population variance.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 34 / 101

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Sampling variance of estimated slope

In order to derive the sampling variance of the OLS estimator,

1 Linearity2 Random (iid) sample3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors5 Homoskedasticity

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 35 / 101

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Sampling variance of estimated slope

In order to derive the sampling variance of the OLS estimator,

1 Linearity2 Random (iid) sample3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors5 Homoskedasticity

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 35 / 101

Page 169: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling variance of estimated slope

In order to derive the sampling variance of the OLS estimator,

1 Linearity

2 Random (iid) sample3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors5 Homoskedasticity

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 35 / 101

Page 170: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling variance of estimated slope

In order to derive the sampling variance of the OLS estimator,

1 Linearity2 Random (iid) sample

3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors5 Homoskedasticity

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 35 / 101

Page 171: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling variance of estimated slope

In order to derive the sampling variance of the OLS estimator,

1 Linearity2 Random (iid) sample3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors5 Homoskedasticity

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 35 / 101

Page 172: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling variance of estimated slope

In order to derive the sampling variance of the OLS estimator,

1 Linearity2 Random (iid) sample3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors

5 Homoskedasticity

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 35 / 101

Page 173: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling variance of estimated slope

In order to derive the sampling variance of the OLS estimator,

1 Linearity2 Random (iid) sample3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors5 Homoskedasticity

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 35 / 101

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Variance of OLS Estimators

How can we derive Var[β0] and Var[β1]? Let’s make the following additionalassumption:

Assumption (V. Homoskedasticity)

The conditional variance of the error term is constant and does not vary as afunction of the explanatory variable:

Var[u|X ] = σ2u

This implies Var[u] = σ2u

→ all errors have an identical error variance (σ2ui = σ2

u for all i)

Taken together, Assumptions I–V imply:

E [Y |X ] = β0 + β1X

Var[Y |X ] = σ2u

Violation: Var[u|X = x1] 6= Var[u|X = x2] called heteroskedasticity.

Assumptions I–V are collectively known as the Gauss-Markov assumptions

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 36 / 101

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Variance of OLS EstimatorsHow can we derive Var[β0] and Var[β1]? Let’s make the following additionalassumption:

Assumption (V. Homoskedasticity)

The conditional variance of the error term is constant and does not vary as afunction of the explanatory variable:

Var[u|X ] = σ2u

This implies Var[u] = σ2u

→ all errors have an identical error variance (σ2ui = σ2

u for all i)

Taken together, Assumptions I–V imply:

E [Y |X ] = β0 + β1X

Var[Y |X ] = σ2u

Violation: Var[u|X = x1] 6= Var[u|X = x2] called heteroskedasticity.

Assumptions I–V are collectively known as the Gauss-Markov assumptions

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 36 / 101

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Variance of OLS EstimatorsHow can we derive Var[β0] and Var[β1]? Let’s make the following additionalassumption:

Assumption (V. Homoskedasticity)

The conditional variance of the error term is constant and does not vary as afunction of the explanatory variable:

Var[u|X ] = σ2u

This implies Var[u] = σ2u

→ all errors have an identical error variance (σ2ui = σ2

u for all i)

Taken together, Assumptions I–V imply:

E [Y |X ] = β0 + β1X

Var[Y |X ] = σ2u

Violation: Var[u|X = x1] 6= Var[u|X = x2] called heteroskedasticity.

Assumptions I–V are collectively known as the Gauss-Markov assumptions

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 36 / 101

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Variance of OLS EstimatorsHow can we derive Var[β0] and Var[β1]? Let’s make the following additionalassumption:

Assumption (V. Homoskedasticity)

The conditional variance of the error term is constant and does not vary as afunction of the explanatory variable:

Var[u|X ] = σ2u

This implies Var[u] = σ2u

→ all errors have an identical error variance (σ2ui = σ2

u for all i)

Taken together, Assumptions I–V imply:

E [Y |X ] = β0 + β1X

Var[Y |X ] = σ2u

Violation: Var[u|X = x1] 6= Var[u|X = x2] called heteroskedasticity.

Assumptions I–V are collectively known as the Gauss-Markov assumptions

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 36 / 101

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Variance of OLS EstimatorsHow can we derive Var[β0] and Var[β1]? Let’s make the following additionalassumption:

Assumption (V. Homoskedasticity)

The conditional variance of the error term is constant and does not vary as afunction of the explanatory variable:

Var[u|X ] = σ2u

This implies Var[u] = σ2u

→ all errors have an identical error variance (σ2ui = σ2

u for all i)

Taken together, Assumptions I–V imply:

E [Y |X ] = β0 + β1X

Var[Y |X ] = σ2u

Violation: Var[u|X = x1] 6= Var[u|X = x2] called heteroskedasticity.

Assumptions I–V are collectively known as the Gauss-Markov assumptions

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 36 / 101

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Variance of OLS EstimatorsHow can we derive Var[β0] and Var[β1]? Let’s make the following additionalassumption:

Assumption (V. Homoskedasticity)

The conditional variance of the error term is constant and does not vary as afunction of the explanatory variable:

Var[u|X ] = σ2u

This implies Var[u] = σ2u

→ all errors have an identical error variance (σ2ui = σ2

u for all i)

Taken together, Assumptions I–V imply:

E [Y |X ] = β0 + β1X

Var[Y |X ] = σ2u

Violation: Var[u|X = x1] 6= Var[u|X = x2] called heteroskedasticity.

Assumptions I–V are collectively known as the Gauss-Markov assumptions

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 36 / 101

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Variance of OLS EstimatorsHow can we derive Var[β0] and Var[β1]? Let’s make the following additionalassumption:

Assumption (V. Homoskedasticity)

The conditional variance of the error term is constant and does not vary as afunction of the explanatory variable:

Var[u|X ] = σ2u

This implies Var[u] = σ2u

→ all errors have an identical error variance (σ2ui = σ2

u for all i)

Taken together, Assumptions I–V imply:

E [Y |X ] = β0 + β1X

Var[Y |X ] = σ2u

Violation: Var[u|X = x1] 6= Var[u|X = x2] called heteroskedasticity.

Assumptions I–V are collectively known as the Gauss-Markov assumptions

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 36 / 101

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Deriving the sampling variance

var[β1|X1, . . . ,Xn] =??

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 37 / 101

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Deriving the sampling variance

var[β1|X1, . . . ,Xn] =??

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 37 / 101

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Variance of OLS Estimators

Theorem (Variance of OLS Estimators)

Given OLS Assumptions I–V (Gauss-Markov Assumptions):

Var[β1 | X ] =σ2u∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

Var[β0 | X ] = σ2u

{1

n+

x2∑ni=1(xi − x)2

}where Var[u | X ] = σ2

u (the error variance).

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 38 / 101

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Understanding the sampling variance

var[β1|X1, . . . ,Xn] =σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

What drives the sampling variability of the OLS estimator?

I The higher the variance of Yi |Xi , the higher the sampling varianceI The lower the variance of Xi , the higher the sampling varianceI As we increase n, the denominator gets large, while the numerator is

fixed and so the sampling variance shrinks to 0.

But, this formula depends upon an unobserved term: σ2u

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 39 / 101

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Understanding the sampling variance

var[β1|X1, . . . ,Xn] =σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

What drives the sampling variability of the OLS estimator?

I The higher the variance of Yi |Xi , the higher the sampling variance

I The lower the variance of Xi , the higher the sampling varianceI As we increase n, the denominator gets large, while the numerator is

fixed and so the sampling variance shrinks to 0.

But, this formula depends upon an unobserved term: σ2u

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 39 / 101

Page 186: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Understanding the sampling variance

var[β1|X1, . . . ,Xn] =σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

What drives the sampling variability of the OLS estimator?

I The higher the variance of Yi |Xi , the higher the sampling varianceI The lower the variance of Xi , the higher the sampling variance

I As we increase n, the denominator gets large, while the numerator isfixed and so the sampling variance shrinks to 0.

But, this formula depends upon an unobserved term: σ2u

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 39 / 101

Page 187: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Understanding the sampling variance

var[β1|X1, . . . ,Xn] =σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

What drives the sampling variability of the OLS estimator?

I The higher the variance of Yi |Xi , the higher the sampling varianceI The lower the variance of Xi , the higher the sampling varianceI As we increase n, the denominator gets large, while the numerator is

fixed and so the sampling variance shrinks to 0.

But, this formula depends upon an unobserved term: σ2u

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 39 / 101

Page 188: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Understanding the sampling variance

var[β1|X1, . . . ,Xn] =σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

What drives the sampling variability of the OLS estimator?

I The higher the variance of Yi |Xi , the higher the sampling varianceI The lower the variance of Xi , the higher the sampling varianceI As we increase n, the denominator gets large, while the numerator is

fixed and so the sampling variance shrinks to 0.

But, this formula depends upon an unobserved term: σ2u

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 39 / 101

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Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

How can we estimate the unobserved error variance Var [u] = σ2u?

We can derive an estimator based on the residuals:

ui = yi − yi = yi − β0 − β1xi

Recall: The errors ui are NOT the same as the residuals ui .

Intuitively, the scatter of the residuals around the fitted regression line shouldreflect the unseen scatter about the true population regression line.

We can measure scatter with the mean squared deviation:

MSD(u) ≡ 1

n

n∑i=1

(ui − ¯u)2 =1

n

n∑i=1

u2i

Intuitively, which line is likely to be closer to the observed sample values on Xand Y , the true line yi = β0 + β1xi or the fitted regression line yi = β0 + β1xi?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 40 / 101

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Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

How can we estimate the unobserved error variance Var [u] = σ2u?

We can derive an estimator based on the residuals:

ui = yi − yi = yi − β0 − β1xi

Recall: The errors ui are NOT the same as the residuals ui .

Intuitively, the scatter of the residuals around the fitted regression line shouldreflect the unseen scatter about the true population regression line.

We can measure scatter with the mean squared deviation:

MSD(u) ≡ 1

n

n∑i=1

(ui − ¯u)2 =1

n

n∑i=1

u2i

Intuitively, which line is likely to be closer to the observed sample values on Xand Y , the true line yi = β0 + β1xi or the fitted regression line yi = β0 + β1xi?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 40 / 101

Page 191: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

How can we estimate the unobserved error variance Var [u] = σ2u?

We can derive an estimator based on the residuals:

ui = yi − yi = yi − β0 − β1xi

Recall: The errors ui are NOT the same as the residuals ui .

Intuitively, the scatter of the residuals around the fitted regression line shouldreflect the unseen scatter about the true population regression line.

We can measure scatter with the mean squared deviation:

MSD(u) ≡ 1

n

n∑i=1

(ui − ¯u)2 =

1

n

n∑i=1

u2i

Intuitively, which line is likely to be closer to the observed sample values on Xand Y , the true line yi = β0 + β1xi or the fitted regression line yi = β0 + β1xi?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 40 / 101

Page 192: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

How can we estimate the unobserved error variance Var [u] = σ2u?

We can derive an estimator based on the residuals:

ui = yi − yi = yi − β0 − β1xi

Recall: The errors ui are NOT the same as the residuals ui .

Intuitively, the scatter of the residuals around the fitted regression line shouldreflect the unseen scatter about the true population regression line.

We can measure scatter with the mean squared deviation:

MSD(u) ≡ 1

n

n∑i=1

(ui − ¯u)2 =1

n

n∑i=1

u2i

Intuitively, which line is likely to be closer to the observed sample values on Xand Y , the true line yi = β0 + β1xi or the fitted regression line yi = β0 + β1xi?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 40 / 101

Page 193: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

How can we estimate the unobserved error variance Var [u] = σ2u?

We can derive an estimator based on the residuals:

ui = yi − yi = yi − β0 − β1xi

Recall: The errors ui are NOT the same as the residuals ui .

Intuitively, the scatter of the residuals around the fitted regression line shouldreflect the unseen scatter about the true population regression line.

We can measure scatter with the mean squared deviation:

MSD(u) ≡ 1

n

n∑i=1

(ui − ¯u)2 =1

n

n∑i=1

u2i

Intuitively, which line is likely to be closer to the observed sample values on Xand Y , the true line yi = β0 + β1xi or the fitted regression line yi = β0 + β1xi?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 40 / 101

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Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

By construction, the regression line is closer since it is drawn to fit thesample we observe

Specifically, the regression line is drawn so as to minimize the sum of thesquares of the distances between it and the observations

So the spread of the residuals MSD(u) will slightly underestimate the errorvariance Var[u] = σ2

u on average

In fact, we can show that with a single regressor X we have:

E [MSD(u)] =n − 2

nσ2u (degrees of freedom adjustment)

Thus, an unbiased estimator for the error variance is:

σ2u =

n

n − 2MSD(u) =

n

n − 2

1

n

n∑i=1

ui =1

n − 2

n∑i=1

u2i

We plug this estimate into the variance estimators for β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 41 / 101

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Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

By construction, the regression line is closer since it is drawn to fit thesample we observe

Specifically, the regression line is drawn so as to minimize the sum of thesquares of the distances between it and the observations

So the spread of the residuals MSD(u) will slightly underestimate the errorvariance Var[u] = σ2

u on average

In fact, we can show that with a single regressor X we have:

E [MSD(u)] =n − 2

nσ2u (degrees of freedom adjustment)

Thus, an unbiased estimator for the error variance is:

σ2u =

n

n − 2MSD(u) =

n

n − 2

1

n

n∑i=1

ui =1

n − 2

n∑i=1

u2i

We plug this estimate into the variance estimators for β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 41 / 101

Page 196: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

By construction, the regression line is closer since it is drawn to fit thesample we observe

Specifically, the regression line is drawn so as to minimize the sum of thesquares of the distances between it and the observations

So the spread of the residuals MSD(u) will slightly underestimate the errorvariance Var[u] = σ2

u on average

In fact, we can show that with a single regressor X we have:

E [MSD(u)] =n − 2

nσ2u (degrees of freedom adjustment)

Thus, an unbiased estimator for the error variance is:

σ2u =

n

n − 2MSD(u) =

n

n − 2

1

n

n∑i=1

ui =1

n − 2

n∑i=1

u2i

We plug this estimate into the variance estimators for β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 41 / 101

Page 197: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

By construction, the regression line is closer since it is drawn to fit thesample we observe

Specifically, the regression line is drawn so as to minimize the sum of thesquares of the distances between it and the observations

So the spread of the residuals MSD(u) will slightly underestimate the errorvariance Var[u] = σ2

u on average

In fact, we can show that with a single regressor X we have:

E [MSD(u)] =n − 2

nσ2u (degrees of freedom adjustment)

Thus, an unbiased estimator for the error variance is:

σ2u =

n

n − 2MSD(u) =

n

n − 2

1

n

n∑i=1

ui =1

n − 2

n∑i=1

u2i

We plug this estimate into the variance estimators for β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 41 / 101

Page 198: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Estimating the Variance of OLS Estimators

By construction, the regression line is closer since it is drawn to fit thesample we observe

Specifically, the regression line is drawn so as to minimize the sum of thesquares of the distances between it and the observations

So the spread of the residuals MSD(u) will slightly underestimate the errorvariance Var[u] = σ2

u on average

In fact, we can show that with a single regressor X we have:

E [MSD(u)] =n − 2

nσ2u (degrees of freedom adjustment)

Thus, an unbiased estimator for the error variance is:

σ2u =

n

n − 2MSD(u) =

n

n − 2

1

n

n∑i=1

ui =1

n − 2

n∑i=1

u2i

We plug this estimate into the variance estimators for β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 41 / 101

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Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

Now we know the mean and sampling variance of the samplingdistribution.

Next Time: how does this compare to other estimators for thepopulation slope?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 42 / 101

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Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)Now we know the mean and sampling variance of the samplingdistribution.

Next Time: how does this compare to other estimators for thepopulation slope?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 42 / 101

Page 201: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)Now we know the mean and sampling variance of the samplingdistribution.

Next Time: how does this compare to other estimators for thepopulation slope?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 42 / 101

Page 202: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

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Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

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Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

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Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLS

F properties of OLSI Wednesday:

F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

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Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

Page 207: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regression

F confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

Page 208: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regression

F goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

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Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

Page 210: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

Page 211: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going...

Last WeekI hypothesis testingI what is regression

This WeekI Monday:

F mechanics of OLSF properties of OLS

I Wednesday:F hypothesis tests for regressionF confidence intervals for regressionF goodness of fit

Next WeekI mechanics with two regressorsI omitted variables, multicollinearity

Long RunI probability → inference → regression → causal inference

Questions?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 43 / 101

Page 212: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 44 / 101

Page 213: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 44 / 101

Page 214: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Example: Epstein and Mershon SCOTUS data

Data on 27 justices from the Warren, Burger, and Rehnquist courts(can be interpreted as a census)

Percentage of votes in liberal direction for each justice in a number ofissue areas

Segal-Cover scores for each justice

Party of appointing president

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 45 / 101

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Example: Epstein and Mershon SCOTUS data

Data on 27 justices from the Warren, Burger, and Rehnquist courts(can be interpreted as a census)

Percentage of votes in liberal direction for each justice in a number ofissue areas

Segal-Cover scores for each justice

Party of appointing president

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 45 / 101

Page 216: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Example: Epstein and Mershon SCOTUS data

Data on 27 justices from the Warren, Burger, and Rehnquist courts(can be interpreted as a census)

Percentage of votes in liberal direction for each justice in a number ofissue areas

Segal-Cover scores for each justice

Party of appointing president

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 45 / 101

Page 217: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Example: Epstein and Mershon SCOTUS data

Data on 27 justices from the Warren, Burger, and Rehnquist courts(can be interpreted as a census)

Percentage of votes in liberal direction for each justice in a number ofissue areas

Segal-Cover scores for each justice

Party of appointing president

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 45 / 101

Page 218: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Example: Epstein and Mershon SCOTUS data

Data on 27 justices from the Warren, Burger, and Rehnquist courts(can be interpreted as a census)

Percentage of votes in liberal direction for each justice in a number ofissue areas

Segal-Cover scores for each justice

Party of appointing president

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 45 / 101

Page 219: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

2030

4050

6070

8090

SCscore

CLl

ib

Black

Reed

Frankfurter

Douglas

Jackson

Burton

Clark

Minton

Warren

HarlanWhittaker

Brennan

Stewart

White

Goldberg

FortasMarshall

Burger

Blackmun

Powell

Rehnquist

Stevens

O'Connor

Scalia

Kennedy

Souter

Thomas

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 46 / 101

Page 220: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

2030

4050

6070

8090

SCscore

CLl

ib

Black

Reed

Frankfurter

Douglas

Jackson

Burton

Clark

Minton

Warren

HarlanWhittaker

Brennan

Stewart

White

Goldberg

FortasMarshall

Burger

Blackmun

Powell

Rehnquist

Stevens

O'Connor

Scalia

Kennedy

Souter

Thomas

y = β0 + β1x

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 46 / 101

Page 221: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

2030

4050

6070

8090

SCscore

CLl

ib

Black

Reed

Frankfurter

Douglas

Jackson

Burton

Clark

Minton

Warren

HarlanWhittaker

Brennan

Stewart

White

Goldberg

FortasMarshall

Burger

Blackmun

Powell

Rehnquist

Stevens

O'Connor

Scalia

Kennedy

Souter

Thomas

β0 β1y = + x

Rise____Run

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 46 / 101

Page 222: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

2030

4050

6070

8090

SCscore

CLl

ib

Black

Reed

Frankfurter

Douglas

Jackson

Burton

Clark

Minton

Warren

HarlanWhittaker

Brennan

Stewart

White

Goldberg

FortasMarshall

Burger

Blackmun

Powell

Rehnquist

Stevens

O'Connor

Scalia

Kennedy

Souter

Thomas

y = + x27.6 41.2

Rise____Run

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 46 / 101

Page 223: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

2030

4050

6070

8090

SCscore

CLl

ib

Black

Reed

Frankfurter

Douglas

Jackson

Burton

Clark

Minton

Warren

HarlanWhittaker

Brennan

Stewart

White

Goldberg

FortasMarshall

Burger

Blackmun

Powell

Rehnquist

Stevens

O'Connor

Scalia

Kennedy

Souter

Thomas

y = + x + 27.6 41.2 u

Rise____Run

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 46 / 101

Page 224: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

How to get β0 and β1

β0 = y − β1x .

β1 =

∑ni=1(xi − x)(yi − y)∑n

i=1(xi − x)2.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 47 / 101

Page 225: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 48 / 101

Page 226: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 48 / 101

Page 227: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

!"#$%&'(%)$*+(,(*+#-'./0%)$*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

3$4/(-#"$#--*5)$-/-,#$'6*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

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EK*($"*!LH"

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

5:(--/'(:*<?*EF3GH*98(::B9(80:#*!$J#.#$'#***

E,*($"*NH*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

O).8(:/,6*)J*G..).-*

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 49 / 101

Page 228: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

!"#$%&'(%)$*+(,(*+#-'./0%)$*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

3$4/(-#"$#--*5)$-/-,#$'6*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

@(A--B?(.C)D*EF<3GH*I-680,)%'*!$J#.#$'#*************

EK*($"*!LH"

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

5:(--/'(:*<?*EF3GH*98(::B9(80:#*!$J#.#$'#***

E,*($"*NH*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

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</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

O).8(:/,6*)J*G..).-*

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 49 / 101

Page 229: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)Now we know the mean and sampling variance of the samplingdistribution.

How does this compare to other estimators for the population slope?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 50 / 101

Page 230: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS is BLUE :(

Theorem (Gauss-Markov)

Given OLS Assumptions I–V, the OLS estimator is BLUE, i.e. the

1 Best: Lowest variance in class

2 Linear: Among Linear estimators

3 Unbiased: Among Linear Unbiased estimators

4 Estimator.

Assumptions 1-5: the “Gauss Markov Assumptions”

The proof is detailed and doesn’t yield insight, so we skip it. (We willexplore the intuition some more in a few slides)

Fails to hold when the assumptions are violated!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 51 / 101

Page 231: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS is BLUE :(

Theorem (Gauss-Markov)

Given OLS Assumptions I–V, the OLS estimator is BLUE, i.e. the

1 Best: Lowest variance in class

2 Linear: Among Linear estimators

3 Unbiased: Among Linear Unbiased estimators

4 Estimator.

Assumptions 1-5: the “Gauss Markov Assumptions”

The proof is detailed and doesn’t yield insight, so we skip it. (We willexplore the intuition some more in a few slides)

Fails to hold when the assumptions are violated!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 51 / 101

Page 232: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS is BLUE :(

Theorem (Gauss-Markov)

Given OLS Assumptions I–V, the OLS estimator is BLUE, i.e. the

1 Best: Lowest variance in class

2 Linear: Among Linear estimators

3 Unbiased: Among Linear Unbiased estimators

4 Estimator.

Assumptions 1-5: the “Gauss Markov Assumptions”

The proof is detailed and doesn’t yield insight, so we skip it. (We willexplore the intuition some more in a few slides)

Fails to hold when the assumptions are violated!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 51 / 101

Page 233: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS is BLUE :(

Theorem (Gauss-Markov)

Given OLS Assumptions I–V, the OLS estimator is BLUE, i.e. the

1 Best: Lowest variance in class

2 Linear: Among Linear estimators

3 Unbiased: Among Linear Unbiased estimators

4 Estimator.

Assumptions 1-5: the “Gauss Markov Assumptions”

The proof is detailed and doesn’t yield insight, so we skip it. (We willexplore the intuition some more in a few slides)

Fails to hold when the assumptions are violated!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 51 / 101

Page 234: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS is BLUE :(

Theorem (Gauss-Markov)

Given OLS Assumptions I–V, the OLS estimator is BLUE, i.e. the

1 Best: Lowest variance in class

2 Linear: Among Linear estimators

3 Unbiased: Among Linear Unbiased estimators

4 Estimator.

Assumptions 1-5: the “Gauss Markov Assumptions”

The proof is detailed and doesn’t yield insight, so we skip it. (We willexplore the intuition some more in a few slides)

Fails to hold when the assumptions are violated!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 51 / 101

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Gauss-Markov Theorem

Regression Analysis Tutorial 70

Econometrics Laboratory � University of California at Berkeley � 22-26 March 1999

All estimators

unbiased

linear

Gauss-Markov Theorem

OLS is efficient in the class of unbiased, linear estimators.

OLS is BLUE--best linear unbiased estimator.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 52 / 101

Page 236: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

And we know that σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi−X )2 is the lowest variance of any linear

estimator of β1

What about the last question mark? What’s the form of thedistribution?

Uniform? t? Normal? Exponential? Hypergeometric?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 53 / 101

Page 237: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

And we know that σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi−X )2 is the lowest variance of any linear

estimator of β1

What about the last question mark? What’s the form of thedistribution?

Uniform? t? Normal? Exponential? Hypergeometric?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 53 / 101

Page 238: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

And we know that σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi−X )2 is the lowest variance of any linear

estimator of β1

What about the last question mark? What’s the form of thedistribution?

Uniform? t? Normal? Exponential? Hypergeometric?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 53 / 101

Page 239: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

And we know that σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi−X )2 is the lowest variance of any linear

estimator of β1

What about the last question mark? What’s the form of thedistribution?

Uniform? t? Normal? Exponential? Hypergeometric?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 53 / 101

Page 240: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

And we know that σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi−X )2 is the lowest variance of any linear

estimator of β1

What about the last question mark? What’s the form of thedistribution? Uniform?

t? Normal? Exponential? Hypergeometric?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 53 / 101

Page 241: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

And we know that σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi−X )2 is the lowest variance of any linear

estimator of β1

What about the last question mark? What’s the form of thedistribution? Uniform? t?

Normal? Exponential? Hypergeometric?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 53 / 101

Page 242: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

And we know that σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi−X )2 is the lowest variance of any linear

estimator of β1

What about the last question mark? What’s the form of thedistribution? Uniform? t? Normal?

Exponential? Hypergeometric?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 53 / 101

Page 243: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

And we know that σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi−X )2 is the lowest variance of any linear

estimator of β1

What about the last question mark? What’s the form of thedistribution? Uniform? t? Normal? Exponential?

Hypergeometric?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 53 / 101

Page 244: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5, we know that

β1 ∼?

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

And we know that σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi−X )2 is the lowest variance of any linear

estimator of β1

What about the last question mark? What’s the form of thedistribution? Uniform? t? Normal? Exponential? Hypergeometric?

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 53 / 101

Page 245: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Large-sample distribution of OLS estimators

Remember that the OLS estimator is the sum of independent r.v.’s:

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Mantra of the Central Limit Theorem:

“the sums and means of r.v.’s tend to be Normally distributed inlarge samples.”

True here as well, so we know that in large samples:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Can also replace SE with an estimate:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 54 / 101

Page 246: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Large-sample distribution of OLS estimators

Remember that the OLS estimator is the sum of independent r.v.’s:

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Mantra of the Central Limit Theorem:

“the sums and means of r.v.’s tend to be Normally distributed inlarge samples.”

True here as well, so we know that in large samples:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Can also replace SE with an estimate:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 54 / 101

Page 247: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Large-sample distribution of OLS estimators

Remember that the OLS estimator is the sum of independent r.v.’s:

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Mantra of the Central Limit Theorem:

“the sums and means of r.v.’s tend to be Normally distributed inlarge samples.”

True here as well, so we know that in large samples:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Can also replace SE with an estimate:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 54 / 101

Page 248: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Large-sample distribution of OLS estimators

Remember that the OLS estimator is the sum of independent r.v.’s:

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Mantra of the Central Limit Theorem:

“the sums and means of r.v.’s tend to be Normally distributed inlarge samples.”

True here as well, so we know that in large samples:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Can also replace SE with an estimate:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 54 / 101

Page 249: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Large-sample distribution of OLS estimators

Remember that the OLS estimator is the sum of independent r.v.’s:

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Mantra of the Central Limit Theorem:

“the sums and means of r.v.’s tend to be Normally distributed inlarge samples.”

True here as well, so we know that in large samples:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Can also replace SE with an estimate:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 54 / 101

Page 250: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Large-sample distribution of OLS estimators

Remember that the OLS estimator is the sum of independent r.v.’s:

β1 =n∑

i=1

WiYi

Mantra of the Central Limit Theorem:

“the sums and means of r.v.’s tend to be Normally distributed inlarge samples.”

True here as well, so we know that in large samples:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Can also replace SE with an estimate:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 54 / 101

Page 251: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5 and in large samples, we know that

β1 ∼ N

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 55 / 101

Page 252: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5 and in large samples, we know that

β1 ∼ N

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 55 / 101

Page 253: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Sampling distribution in small samples

What if we have a small sample? What can we do then?

Can’t get something for nothing, but we can make progress if wemake another assumption:

1 Linearity

2 Random (iid) sample

3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors

5 Homoskedasticity

6 Errors are conditionally Normal

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Sampling distribution in small samples

What if we have a small sample? What can we do then?

Can’t get something for nothing, but we can make progress if wemake another assumption:

1 Linearity

2 Random (iid) sample

3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors

5 Homoskedasticity

6 Errors are conditionally Normal

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 56 / 101

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Sampling distribution in small samples

What if we have a small sample? What can we do then?

Can’t get something for nothing, but we can make progress if wemake another assumption:

1 Linearity

2 Random (iid) sample

3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors

5 Homoskedasticity

6 Errors are conditionally Normal

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 56 / 101

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Sampling distribution in small samples

What if we have a small sample? What can we do then?

Can’t get something for nothing, but we can make progress if wemake another assumption:

1 Linearity

2 Random (iid) sample

3 Variation in Xi

4 Zero conditional mean of the errors

5 Homoskedasticity

6 Errors are conditionally Normal

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 56 / 101

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OLS Assumptions VI

Assumption (VI. Normality)

The population error term is independent of the explanatory variable, u⊥⊥X , andis normally distributed with mean zero and variance σ2

u:

u ∼ N(0, σ2u), which implies Y |X ∼ N(β0 + β1X , σ

2u)

Note: This also implies homoskedasticity and zero conditional mean.

Together Assumptions I–VI are the classical linear model (CLM)assumptions.

The CLM assumptions imply that OLS is BUE (i.e. minimum varianceamong all linear or non-linear unbiased estimators)

Non-normality of the errors is a serious concern in small samples. We canpartially check this assumption by looking at the residuals (more in comingweeks)

Variable transformations can help to come closer to normality

Reminder: we don’t need normality assumption in large samples

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OLS Assumptions VI

Assumption (VI. Normality)

The population error term is independent of the explanatory variable, u⊥⊥X , andis normally distributed with mean zero and variance σ2

u:

u ∼ N(0, σ2u), which implies Y |X ∼ N(β0 + β1X , σ

2u)

Note: This also implies homoskedasticity and zero conditional mean.

Together Assumptions I–VI are the classical linear model (CLM)assumptions.

The CLM assumptions imply that OLS is BUE (i.e. minimum varianceamong all linear or non-linear unbiased estimators)

Non-normality of the errors is a serious concern in small samples. We canpartially check this assumption by looking at the residuals (more in comingweeks)

Variable transformations can help to come closer to normality

Reminder: we don’t need normality assumption in large samples

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 57 / 101

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OLS Assumptions VI

Assumption (VI. Normality)

The population error term is independent of the explanatory variable, u⊥⊥X , andis normally distributed with mean zero and variance σ2

u:

u ∼ N(0, σ2u), which implies Y |X ∼ N(β0 + β1X , σ

2u)

Note: This also implies homoskedasticity and zero conditional mean.

Together Assumptions I–VI are the classical linear model (CLM)assumptions.

The CLM assumptions imply that OLS is BUE (i.e. minimum varianceamong all linear or non-linear unbiased estimators)

Non-normality of the errors is a serious concern in small samples. We canpartially check this assumption by looking at the residuals (more in comingweeks)

Variable transformations can help to come closer to normality

Reminder: we don’t need normality assumption in large samples

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 57 / 101

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OLS Assumptions VI

Assumption (VI. Normality)

The population error term is independent of the explanatory variable, u⊥⊥X , andis normally distributed with mean zero and variance σ2

u:

u ∼ N(0, σ2u), which implies Y |X ∼ N(β0 + β1X , σ

2u)

Note: This also implies homoskedasticity and zero conditional mean.

Together Assumptions I–VI are the classical linear model (CLM)assumptions.

The CLM assumptions imply that OLS is BUE (i.e. minimum varianceamong all linear or non-linear unbiased estimators)

Non-normality of the errors is a serious concern in small samples. We canpartially check this assumption by looking at the residuals (more in comingweeks)

Variable transformations can help to come closer to normality

Reminder: we don’t need normality assumption in large samples

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 57 / 101

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OLS Assumptions VI

Assumption (VI. Normality)

The population error term is independent of the explanatory variable, u⊥⊥X , andis normally distributed with mean zero and variance σ2

u:

u ∼ N(0, σ2u), which implies Y |X ∼ N(β0 + β1X , σ

2u)

Note: This also implies homoskedasticity and zero conditional mean.

Together Assumptions I–VI are the classical linear model (CLM)assumptions.

The CLM assumptions imply that OLS is BUE (i.e. minimum varianceamong all linear or non-linear unbiased estimators)

Non-normality of the errors is a serious concern in small samples. We canpartially check this assumption by looking at the residuals (more in comingweeks)

Variable transformations can help to come closer to normality

Reminder: we don’t need normality assumption in large samples

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 57 / 101

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OLS Assumptions VI

Assumption (VI. Normality)

The population error term is independent of the explanatory variable, u⊥⊥X , andis normally distributed with mean zero and variance σ2

u:

u ∼ N(0, σ2u), which implies Y |X ∼ N(β0 + β1X , σ

2u)

Note: This also implies homoskedasticity and zero conditional mean.

Together Assumptions I–VI are the classical linear model (CLM)assumptions.

The CLM assumptions imply that OLS is BUE (i.e. minimum varianceamong all linear or non-linear unbiased estimators)

Non-normality of the errors is a serious concern in small samples. We canpartially check this assumption by looking at the residuals (more in comingweeks)

Variable transformations can help to come closer to normality

Reminder: we don’t need normality assumption in large samples

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 57 / 101

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OLS Assumptions VI

Assumption (VI. Normality)

The population error term is independent of the explanatory variable, u⊥⊥X , andis normally distributed with mean zero and variance σ2

u:

u ∼ N(0, σ2u), which implies Y |X ∼ N(β0 + β1X , σ

2u)

Note: This also implies homoskedasticity and zero conditional mean.

Together Assumptions I–VI are the classical linear model (CLM)assumptions.

The CLM assumptions imply that OLS is BUE (i.e. minimum varianceamong all linear or non-linear unbiased estimators)

Non-normality of the errors is a serious concern in small samples. We canpartially check this assumption by looking at the residuals (more in comingweeks)

Variable transformations can help to come closer to normality

Reminder: we don’t need normality assumption in large samples

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 57 / 101

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Sampling Distribution for β1

Theorem (Sampling Distribution of β1)

Under Assumptions I–VI,

β1 ∼ N(β1,Var[β1 | X ]

)where Var[β1 | X ] =

σ2u∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

which implies β1 − β1√Var[β1 | X ]

=β1 − β1

SE (β)∼ N(0, 1)

Proof.

Given Assumptions I–VI, β1 is a linear combination of the i.i.d. normal random variables:

β1 = β1 +n∑

i=1

(xi − x)

SSTxui where ui ∼ N(0, σ2

u).

Any linear combination of independent normals is normal, and we can transform/standarize anynormal random variable into a standard normal by subtracting off its mean and dividing by itsstandard deviation.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 58 / 101

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Sampling Distribution for β1

Theorem (Sampling Distribution of β1)

Under Assumptions I–VI,

β1 ∼ N(β1,Var[β1 | X ]

)where Var[β1 | X ] =

σ2u∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

which implies

β1 − β1√Var[β1 | X ]

=β1 − β1

SE (β)∼ N(0, 1)

Proof.

Given Assumptions I–VI, β1 is a linear combination of the i.i.d. normal random variables:

β1 = β1 +n∑

i=1

(xi − x)

SSTxui where ui ∼ N(0, σ2

u).

Any linear combination of independent normals is normal, and we can transform/standarize anynormal random variable into a standard normal by subtracting off its mean and dividing by itsstandard deviation.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 58 / 101

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Sampling Distribution for β1

Theorem (Sampling Distribution of β1)

Under Assumptions I–VI,

β1 ∼ N(β1,Var[β1 | X ]

)where Var[β1 | X ] =

σ2u∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

which implies β1 − β1√Var[β1 | X ]

=β1 − β1

SE (β)∼ N(0, 1)

Proof.

Given Assumptions I–VI, β1 is a linear combination of the i.i.d. normal random variables:

β1 = β1 +n∑

i=1

(xi − x)

SSTxui where ui ∼ N(0, σ2

u).

Any linear combination of independent normals is normal, and we can transform/standarize anynormal random variable into a standard normal by subtracting off its mean and dividing by itsstandard deviation.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 58 / 101

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Sampling Distribution for β1

Theorem (Sampling Distribution of β1)

Under Assumptions I–VI,

β1 ∼ N(β1,Var[β1 | X ]

)where Var[β1 | X ] =

σ2u∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

which implies β1 − β1√Var[β1 | X ]

=β1 − β1

SE (β)∼ N(0, 1)

Proof.

Given Assumptions I–VI, β1 is a linear combination of the i.i.d. normal random variables:

β1 = β1 +n∑

i=1

(xi − x)

SSTxui where ui ∼ N(0, σ2

u).

Any linear combination of independent normals is normal, and we can transform/standarize anynormal random variable into a standard normal by subtracting off its mean and dividing by itsstandard deviation.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 58 / 101

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Sampling Distribution for β1

Theorem (Sampling Distribution of β1)

Under Assumptions I–VI,

β1 ∼ N(β1,Var[β1 | X ]

)where Var[β1 | X ] =

σ2u∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

which implies β1 − β1√Var[β1 | X ]

=β1 − β1

SE (β)∼ N(0, 1)

Proof.

Given Assumptions I–VI, β1 is a linear combination of the i.i.d. normal random variables:

β1 = β1 +n∑

i=1

(xi − x)

SSTxui where ui ∼ N(0, σ2

u).

Any linear combination of independent normals is normal, and we can transform/standarize anynormal random variable into a standard normal by subtracting off its mean and dividing by itsstandard deviation.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 58 / 101

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Sampling distribution of OLS slope

If we have Yi given Xi is distributed N(β0 + β1Xi , σ2u), then we have

the following at any sample size:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Furthermore, if we replace the true standard error with the estimatedstandard error, then we get the following:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ tn−2

The standardized coefficient follows a t distribution n − 2 degrees offreedom. We take off an extra degree of freedom because we had toestimate one more parameter than just the sample mean.

All of this depends on Normal errors!

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Sampling distribution of OLS slope

If we have Yi given Xi is distributed N(β0 + β1Xi , σ2u), then we have

the following at any sample size:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Furthermore, if we replace the true standard error with the estimatedstandard error, then we get the following:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ tn−2

The standardized coefficient follows a t distribution n − 2 degrees offreedom. We take off an extra degree of freedom because we had toestimate one more parameter than just the sample mean.

All of this depends on Normal errors!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 59 / 101

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Sampling distribution of OLS slope

If we have Yi given Xi is distributed N(β0 + β1Xi , σ2u), then we have

the following at any sample size:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Furthermore, if we replace the true standard error with the estimatedstandard error, then we get the following:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ tn−2

The standardized coefficient follows a t distribution n − 2 degrees offreedom. We take off an extra degree of freedom because we had toestimate one more parameter than just the sample mean.

All of this depends on Normal errors!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 59 / 101

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Sampling distribution of OLS slope

If we have Yi given Xi is distributed N(β0 + β1Xi , σ2u), then we have

the following at any sample size:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ N(0, 1)

Furthermore, if we replace the true standard error with the estimatedstandard error, then we get the following:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ tn−2

The standardized coefficient follows a t distribution n − 2 degrees offreedom. We take off an extra degree of freedom because we had toestimate one more parameter than just the sample mean.

All of this depends on Normal errors!

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 59 / 101

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The t-Test for Single Population Parameters

SE [β1] = σu√∑ni=1(xi−x)2

involves the unknown population error variance σ2u

Replace σ2u with its unbiased estimator σ2

u =∑n

i=1 u2i

n−2 , and we obtain:

Theorem (Sampling Distribution of t-value)

Under Assumptions I–VI, the t-value for β1 has a t-distribution with n− 2 degreesof freedom:

T ≡ β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ τn−2

Proof.The logic is perfectly analogous to the t-value for the population mean — because weare estimating the denominator, we need a distribution that has fatter tails than N(0, 1)to take into account the additional uncertainty.

This time, σ2u contains two estimated parameters (β0 and β1) instead of one, hence the

degrees of freedom = n − 2.

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The t-Test for Single Population Parameters

SE [β1] = σu√∑ni=1(xi−x)2

involves the unknown population error variance σ2u

Replace σ2u with its unbiased estimator σ2

u =∑n

i=1 u2i

n−2 , and we obtain:

Theorem (Sampling Distribution of t-value)

Under Assumptions I–VI, the t-value for β1 has a t-distribution with n− 2 degreesof freedom:

T ≡ β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ τn−2

Proof.The logic is perfectly analogous to the t-value for the population mean — because weare estimating the denominator, we need a distribution that has fatter tails than N(0, 1)to take into account the additional uncertainty.

This time, σ2u contains two estimated parameters (β0 and β1) instead of one, hence the

degrees of freedom = n − 2.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 60 / 101

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Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5 and in large samples, we know that

β1 ∼ N

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)

Under Assumptions 1-6 and in any sample, we know that

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ tn−2

Now let’s briefly return to some of the large sample properties.

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Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5 and in large samples, we know that

β1 ∼ N

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)Under Assumptions 1-6 and in any sample, we know that

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ tn−2

Now let’s briefly return to some of the large sample properties.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 61 / 101

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Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5 and in large samples, we know that

β1 ∼ N

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)Under Assumptions 1-6 and in any sample, we know that

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ tn−2

Now let’s briefly return to some of the large sample properties.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 61 / 101

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Where are we?

Under Assumptions 1-5 and in large samples, we know that

β1 ∼ N

(β1,

σ2u∑n

i=1(Xi − X )2

)Under Assumptions 1-6 and in any sample, we know that

β1 − β1

SE [β1]∼ tn−2

Now let’s briefly return to some of the large sample properties.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 61 / 101

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Large Sample Properties: Consistency

We just looked formally at the small sample properties of the OLSestimator, i.e., how (β0, β1) behaves in repeated samples of a given n.

Now let’s take a more rigorous look at the large sample properties, i.e., how(β0, β1) behaves when n→∞.

Theorem (Consistency of OLS Estimator)

Given Assumptions I–IV, the OLS estimator β1 is consistent for β1 as n→∞:

plimn→∞

β1 = β1

Technical note: We can slightly relax Assumption IV:

E [u|X ] = 0 (any function of X is uncorrelated with u)

to its implication:

Cov[u,X ] = 0 (X is uncorrelated with u)

for consistency to hold (but not unbiasedness).

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Large Sample Properties: Consistency

We just looked formally at the small sample properties of the OLSestimator, i.e., how (β0, β1) behaves in repeated samples of a given n.

Now let’s take a more rigorous look at the large sample properties, i.e., how(β0, β1) behaves when n→∞.

Theorem (Consistency of OLS Estimator)

Given Assumptions I–IV, the OLS estimator β1 is consistent for β1 as n→∞:

plimn→∞

β1 = β1

Technical note: We can slightly relax Assumption IV:

E [u|X ] = 0 (any function of X is uncorrelated with u)

to its implication:

Cov[u,X ] = 0 (X is uncorrelated with u)

for consistency to hold (but not unbiasedness).

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 62 / 101

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Large Sample Properties: Consistency

We just looked formally at the small sample properties of the OLSestimator, i.e., how (β0, β1) behaves in repeated samples of a given n.

Now let’s take a more rigorous look at the large sample properties, i.e., how(β0, β1) behaves when n→∞.

Theorem (Consistency of OLS Estimator)

Given Assumptions I–IV, the OLS estimator β1 is consistent for β1 as n→∞:

plimn→∞

β1 = β1

Technical note: We can slightly relax Assumption IV:

E [u|X ] = 0 (any function of X is uncorrelated with u)

to its implication:

Cov[u,X ] = 0 (X is uncorrelated with u)

for consistency to hold (but not unbiasedness).

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 62 / 101

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Large Sample Properties: Consistency

We just looked formally at the small sample properties of the OLSestimator, i.e., how (β0, β1) behaves in repeated samples of a given n.

Now let’s take a more rigorous look at the large sample properties, i.e., how(β0, β1) behaves when n→∞.

Theorem (Consistency of OLS Estimator)

Given Assumptions I–IV, the OLS estimator β1 is consistent for β1 as n→∞:

plimn→∞

β1 = β1

Technical note: We can slightly relax Assumption IV:

E [u|X ] = 0 (any function of X is uncorrelated with u)

to its implication:

Cov[u,X ] = 0 (X is uncorrelated with u)

for consistency to hold (but not unbiasedness).

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 62 / 101

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Large Sample Properties: Consistency

Proof.Similar to the unbiasedness proof:

β1 =

∑ni=1(xi − x)yi∑ni=1(xi − x)2

= β1 +

∑ni (xi − x)ui∑ni (xi − x)2

plim β1 = plim β1 + plim

∑ni (xi − x)ui∑ni (xi − x)2

(Wooldridge C.3 Property i)

= β1 +plim 1

n

∑ni (xi − x)ui

plim 1n

∑ni (xi − x)2

(Wooldridge C.3 Property iii)

= β1 +Cov[X , u]

Var[X ](by the law of large numbers)

= β1 (Cov[X , u] = 0 and Var[X ] > 0)

OLS is inconsistent (and biased) unless Cov[X , u] = 0

If Cov[u,X ] > 0 then asymptotic bias is upward; if Cov[u,X ] < 0asymptotic bias is downwards

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Large Sample Properties: Asymptotic Normality

For statistical inference, we need to know the sampling distribution of βwhen n→∞.

Theorem (Asymptotic Normality of OLS Estimator)

Given Assumptions I–V, the OLS estimator β1 is asymptotically normallydistributed:

β1 − β1

SE [β1]

approx.∼ N(0, 1)

where

SE [β1] =σu√∑n

i=1(xi − x)2

with the consistent estimator for the error variance:

σ2u =

1

n

n∑i=1

u2i

p→ σ2u

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Large Sample Inference

Proof.Proof is similar to the small-sample normality proof:

β1 = β1 +n∑

i=1

(xi − x)

SSTxui

√n(β1 − β1) =

√n · 1

n

∑ni=1(xi − x)ui

1n

∑ni=1(xi − x)2

where the numerator converges in distribution to a normal random variable by CLT.Then, rearranging the terms, etc. gives you the right formula given in the theorem.

For a more formal and detailed proof, see Wooldridge Appendix 5A.

We need homoskedasticity (Assumption V) for this result, but we do not neednormality (Assumption VI).

Result implies that asymptotically our usual standard errors, t-values, p-values, andCIs remain valid even without the normality assumption! We just proceed as in thesmall sample case where we assume normality.

It turns out that, given Assumptions I–V, the OLS asymptotic variance is also thelowest in class (asymptotic Gauss-Markov).

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 65 / 101

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Large Sample Inference

Proof.Proof is similar to the small-sample normality proof:

β1 = β1 +n∑

i=1

(xi − x)

SSTxui

√n(β1 − β1) =

√n · 1

n

∑ni=1(xi − x)ui

1n

∑ni=1(xi − x)2

where the numerator converges in distribution to a normal random variable by CLT.Then, rearranging the terms, etc. gives you the right formula given in the theorem.

For a more formal and detailed proof, see Wooldridge Appendix 5A.

We need homoskedasticity (Assumption V) for this result, but we do not neednormality (Assumption VI).

Result implies that asymptotically our usual standard errors, t-values, p-values, andCIs remain valid even without the normality assumption! We just proceed as in thesmall sample case where we assume normality.

It turns out that, given Assumptions I–V, the OLS asymptotic variance is also thelowest in class (asymptotic Gauss-Markov).

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 65 / 101

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Testing and Confidence Intervals

Three ways of making statistical inference out of regression:

1 Point Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of our pointestimator β1 to infer β1

2 Hypothesis Testing: Consider the sampling distribution of a teststatistic to test hypothesis about β1 at the α level

3 Interval Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of an intervalestimator to construct intervals that will contain β1 at least100(1− α)% of the time.

For 2 and 3, we need to know more than just the mean and the variance ofthe sampling distribution of β1. We need to know the full shape of thesampling distribution of our estimators β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 66 / 101

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Testing and Confidence Intervals

Three ways of making statistical inference out of regression:

1 Point Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of our pointestimator β1 to infer β1

2 Hypothesis Testing: Consider the sampling distribution of a teststatistic to test hypothesis about β1 at the α level

3 Interval Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of an intervalestimator to construct intervals that will contain β1 at least100(1− α)% of the time.

For 2 and 3, we need to know more than just the mean and the variance ofthe sampling distribution of β1. We need to know the full shape of thesampling distribution of our estimators β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 66 / 101

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Testing and Confidence Intervals

Three ways of making statistical inference out of regression:

1 Point Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of our pointestimator β1 to infer β1

2 Hypothesis Testing: Consider the sampling distribution of a teststatistic to test hypothesis about β1 at the α level

3 Interval Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of an intervalestimator to construct intervals that will contain β1 at least100(1− α)% of the time.

For 2 and 3, we need to know more than just the mean and the variance ofthe sampling distribution of β1. We need to know the full shape of thesampling distribution of our estimators β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 66 / 101

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Testing and Confidence Intervals

Three ways of making statistical inference out of regression:

1 Point Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of our pointestimator β1 to infer β1

2 Hypothesis Testing: Consider the sampling distribution of a teststatistic to test hypothesis about β1 at the α level

3 Interval Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of an intervalestimator to construct intervals that will contain β1 at least100(1− α)% of the time.

For 2 and 3, we need to know more than just the mean and the variance ofthe sampling distribution of β1. We need to know the full shape of thesampling distribution of our estimators β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 66 / 101

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Testing and Confidence Intervals

Three ways of making statistical inference out of regression:

1 Point Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of our pointestimator β1 to infer β1

2 Hypothesis Testing: Consider the sampling distribution of a teststatistic to test hypothesis about β1 at the α level

3 Interval Estimation: Consider the sampling distribution of an intervalestimator to construct intervals that will contain β1 at least100(1− α)% of the time.

For 2 and 3, we need to know more than just the mean and the variance ofthe sampling distribution of β1. We need to know the full shape of thesampling distribution of our estimators β0 and β1.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 66 / 101

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1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

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1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 67 / 101

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Null and alternative hypotheses review

Null: H0 : β1 = 0

I The null is the straw man we want to knock down.I With regression, almost always null of no relationship

Alternative: Ha : β1 6= 0

I Claim we want to testI Almost always “some effect”I Could do one-sided test, but you shouldn’t

Notice these are statements about the population parameters, not theOLS estimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 68 / 101

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Null and alternative hypotheses review

Null: H0 : β1 = 0

I The null is the straw man we want to knock down.

I With regression, almost always null of no relationship

Alternative: Ha : β1 6= 0

I Claim we want to testI Almost always “some effect”I Could do one-sided test, but you shouldn’t

Notice these are statements about the population parameters, not theOLS estimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 68 / 101

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Null and alternative hypotheses review

Null: H0 : β1 = 0

I The null is the straw man we want to knock down.I With regression, almost always null of no relationship

Alternative: Ha : β1 6= 0

I Claim we want to testI Almost always “some effect”I Could do one-sided test, but you shouldn’t

Notice these are statements about the population parameters, not theOLS estimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 68 / 101

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Null and alternative hypotheses review

Null: H0 : β1 = 0

I The null is the straw man we want to knock down.I With regression, almost always null of no relationship

Alternative: Ha : β1 6= 0

I Claim we want to testI Almost always “some effect”I Could do one-sided test, but you shouldn’t

Notice these are statements about the population parameters, not theOLS estimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 68 / 101

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Null and alternative hypotheses review

Null: H0 : β1 = 0

I The null is the straw man we want to knock down.I With regression, almost always null of no relationship

Alternative: Ha : β1 6= 0

I Claim we want to test

I Almost always “some effect”I Could do one-sided test, but you shouldn’t

Notice these are statements about the population parameters, not theOLS estimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 68 / 101

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Null and alternative hypotheses review

Null: H0 : β1 = 0

I The null is the straw man we want to knock down.I With regression, almost always null of no relationship

Alternative: Ha : β1 6= 0

I Claim we want to testI Almost always “some effect”

I Could do one-sided test, but you shouldn’t

Notice these are statements about the population parameters, not theOLS estimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 68 / 101

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Null and alternative hypotheses review

Null: H0 : β1 = 0

I The null is the straw man we want to knock down.I With regression, almost always null of no relationship

Alternative: Ha : β1 6= 0

I Claim we want to testI Almost always “some effect”I Could do one-sided test, but you shouldn’t

Notice these are statements about the population parameters, not theOLS estimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 68 / 101

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Null and alternative hypotheses review

Null: H0 : β1 = 0

I The null is the straw man we want to knock down.I With regression, almost always null of no relationship

Alternative: Ha : β1 6= 0

I Claim we want to testI Almost always “some effect”I Could do one-sided test, but you shouldn’t

Notice these are statements about the population parameters, not theOLS estimates.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 68 / 101

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Test statistic

Under the null of H0 : β1 = c , we can use the following familiar teststatistic:

T =β1 − c

SE [β1]

As we saw in the last section, if the errors are conditionally Normal,then under the null hypothesis we have:

T ∼ tn−2

In large samples, we know that T is approximately (standard)Normal, but we also know that tn−2 is approximately (standard)Normal in large samples too, so this statement works there too, evenif Normality of the errors fails.

Thus, under the null, we know the distribution of T and can use thatto formulate a rejection region and calculate p-values.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 69 / 101

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Test statistic

Under the null of H0 : β1 = c , we can use the following familiar teststatistic:

T =β1 − c

SE [β1]

As we saw in the last section, if the errors are conditionally Normal,then under the null hypothesis we have:

T ∼ tn−2

In large samples, we know that T is approximately (standard)Normal, but we also know that tn−2 is approximately (standard)Normal in large samples too, so this statement works there too, evenif Normality of the errors fails.

Thus, under the null, we know the distribution of T and can use thatto formulate a rejection region and calculate p-values.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 69 / 101

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Test statistic

Under the null of H0 : β1 = c , we can use the following familiar teststatistic:

T =β1 − c

SE [β1]

As we saw in the last section, if the errors are conditionally Normal,then under the null hypothesis we have:

T ∼ tn−2

In large samples, we know that T is approximately (standard)Normal, but we also know that tn−2 is approximately (standard)Normal in large samples too, so this statement works there too, evenif Normality of the errors fails.

Thus, under the null, we know the distribution of T and can use thatto formulate a rejection region and calculate p-values.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 69 / 101

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Test statistic

Under the null of H0 : β1 = c , we can use the following familiar teststatistic:

T =β1 − c

SE [β1]

As we saw in the last section, if the errors are conditionally Normal,then under the null hypothesis we have:

T ∼ tn−2

In large samples, we know that T is approximately (standard)Normal, but we also know that tn−2 is approximately (standard)Normal in large samples too, so this statement works there too, evenif Normality of the errors fails.

Thus, under the null, we know the distribution of T and can use thatto formulate a rejection region and calculate p-values.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 69 / 101

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Rejection regionChoose a level of the test, α, and find rejection regions thatcorrespond to that value under the null distribution:

P(−tα/2,n−2 < T < tα/2,n−2) = 1− α

This is exactly the same as with sample means and sample differencesin means, except that the degrees of freedom on the t distributionhave changed.

-4 -2 0 2 4

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

x

dnor

m(x

)

Retain RejectReject

0.025 0.025t = 1.96-t = -1.96

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 70 / 101

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Rejection regionChoose a level of the test, α, and find rejection regions thatcorrespond to that value under the null distribution:

P(−tα/2,n−2 < T < tα/2,n−2) = 1− αThis is exactly the same as with sample means and sample differencesin means, except that the degrees of freedom on the t distributionhave changed.

-4 -2 0 2 4

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

x

dnor

m(x

)

Retain RejectReject

0.025 0.025t = 1.96-t = -1.96

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 70 / 101

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p-value

The interpretation of the p-value is the same: the probability of seeinga test statistic at least this extreme if the null hypothesis were true

Mathematically:

P

(∣∣∣∣∣ β1 − c

SE [β1]

∣∣∣∣∣ ≥ |Tobs |

)If the p-value is less than α we would reject the null at the α level.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 71 / 101

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p-value

The interpretation of the p-value is the same: the probability of seeinga test statistic at least this extreme if the null hypothesis were true

Mathematically:

P

(∣∣∣∣∣ β1 − c

SE [β1]

∣∣∣∣∣ ≥ |Tobs |

)

If the p-value is less than α we would reject the null at the α level.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 71 / 101

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p-value

The interpretation of the p-value is the same: the probability of seeinga test statistic at least this extreme if the null hypothesis were true

Mathematically:

P

(∣∣∣∣∣ β1 − c

SE [β1]

∣∣∣∣∣ ≥ |Tobs |

)If the p-value is less than α we would reject the null at the α level.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 71 / 101

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1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 72 / 101

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1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 72 / 101

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Confidence intervals

Very similar to the approach with sample means. By the samplingdistribution of the OLS estimator, we know that we can find t-valuessuch that:

P(− tα/2,n−2 ≤

β1 − β1

SE [β1]≤ tα/2,n−2

)= 1− α

If we rearrange this as before, we can get an expression for confidenceintervals:

P(β1 − tα/2,n−2SE [β1] ≤ β1 ≤ β1 + tα/2,n−2SE [β1]

)= 1− α

Thus, we can write the confidence intervals as:

β1 ± tα/2,n−2SE [β1]

We can derive these for the intercept as well:

β0 ± tα/2,n−2SE [β0]

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 73 / 101

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Confidence intervals

Very similar to the approach with sample means. By the samplingdistribution of the OLS estimator, we know that we can find t-valuessuch that:

P(− tα/2,n−2 ≤

β1 − β1

SE [β1]≤ tα/2,n−2

)= 1− α

If we rearrange this as before, we can get an expression for confidenceintervals:

P(β1 − tα/2,n−2SE [β1] ≤ β1 ≤ β1 + tα/2,n−2SE [β1]

)= 1− α

Thus, we can write the confidence intervals as:

β1 ± tα/2,n−2SE [β1]

We can derive these for the intercept as well:

β0 ± tα/2,n−2SE [β0]

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 73 / 101

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Confidence intervals

Very similar to the approach with sample means. By the samplingdistribution of the OLS estimator, we know that we can find t-valuessuch that:

P(− tα/2,n−2 ≤

β1 − β1

SE [β1]≤ tα/2,n−2

)= 1− α

If we rearrange this as before, we can get an expression for confidenceintervals:

P(β1 − tα/2,n−2SE [β1] ≤ β1 ≤ β1 + tα/2,n−2SE [β1]

)= 1− α

Thus, we can write the confidence intervals as:

β1 ± tα/2,n−2SE [β1]

We can derive these for the intercept as well:

β0 ± tα/2,n−2SE [β0]

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 73 / 101

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Confidence intervals

Very similar to the approach with sample means. By the samplingdistribution of the OLS estimator, we know that we can find t-valuessuch that:

P(− tα/2,n−2 ≤

β1 − β1

SE [β1]≤ tα/2,n−2

)= 1− α

If we rearrange this as before, we can get an expression for confidenceintervals:

P(β1 − tα/2,n−2SE [β1] ≤ β1 ≤ β1 + tα/2,n−2SE [β1]

)= 1− α

Thus, we can write the confidence intervals as:

β1 ± tα/2,n−2SE [β1]

We can derive these for the intercept as well:

β0 ± tα/2,n−2SE [β0]

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 73 / 101

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CIs Simulation Example

Returning to our simulation example we can simulate the samplingdistributions of the 95 % confidence interval estimates for β1 and β0

Statistical Inference for Simple Linear RegressionDiagnostics

Properties of the Least Squares Estimator (Point Estimation)Hypothesis TestsConfidence Intervals

Sampling distribution of interval estimates

Returning to the simulation example, we can simulate the sampling distributions of the95% interval estimates for bβ0 and bβ1.

●●

●●

●●

0 2 4 6 8 10

−6

−4

−2

02

46

xx

yy

ββ0

0 2 4 6 8 10

ββ1

−2.0 −1.5 −1.0 −0.5 0.0

Gov2000: Quantitative Methodology for Political Science I

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CIs Simulation Example

Returning to our simulation example we can simulate the samplingdistributions of the 95 % confidence interval estimates for β1 and β0

Statistical Inference for Simple Linear RegressionDiagnostics

Properties of the Least Squares Estimator (Point Estimation)Hypothesis TestsConfidence Intervals

Sampling distribution of interval estimates

Returning to the simulation example, we can simulate the sampling distributions of the95% interval estimates for bβ0 and bβ1.

0 2 4 6 8 10

−6

−4

−2

02

46

xx

yy

ββ0

0 2 4 6 8 10

ββ1

−2.0 −1.5 −1.0 −0.5 0.0

Gov2000: Quantitative Methodology for Political Science I

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CIs Simulation Example

Statistical Inference for Simple Linear RegressionDiagnostics

Properties of the Least Squares Estimator (Point Estimation)Hypothesis TestsConfidence Intervals

Sampling distribution of interval estimates

When we repeat the process over and over, we expect 95% of the confidence intervalsto contain the true parameters.Note that, in a given sample, one CI may cover its true value and the other may not.

ββ0

0 2 4 6 8 10

ββ1

−2.0 −1.5 −1.0 −0.5 0.0

Gov2000: Quantitative Methodology for Political Science I

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 74 / 101

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CIs Simulation Example

Statistical Inference for Simple Linear RegressionDiagnostics

Properties of the Least Squares Estimator (Point Estimation)Hypothesis TestsConfidence Intervals

Sampling distribution of interval estimates

When we repeat the process over and over, we expect 95% of the confidence intervalsto contain the true parameters.Note that, in a given sample, one CI may cover its true value and the other may not.

ββ0

0 2 4 6 8 10

ββ1

−2.0 −1.5 −1.0 −0.5 0.0

Gov2000: Quantitative Methodology for Political Science I

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Prediction error

How do we judge how well a line fits the data?

One way is to find out how much better we do at predicting Y oncewe include X into the regression model.

Prediction errors without X : best prediction is the mean, so oursquared errors, or the total sum of squares (SStot) would be:

SStot =n∑

i=1

(Yi − Y )2

Once we have estimated our model, we have new prediction errors,which are just the sum of the squared residuals or SSres :

SSres =n∑

i=1

(Yi − Yi )2

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 75 / 101

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Prediction error

How do we judge how well a line fits the data?

One way is to find out how much better we do at predicting Y oncewe include X into the regression model.

Prediction errors without X : best prediction is the mean, so oursquared errors, or the total sum of squares (SStot) would be:

SStot =n∑

i=1

(Yi − Y )2

Once we have estimated our model, we have new prediction errors,which are just the sum of the squared residuals or SSres :

SSres =n∑

i=1

(Yi − Yi )2

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 75 / 101

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Prediction error

How do we judge how well a line fits the data?

One way is to find out how much better we do at predicting Y oncewe include X into the regression model.

Prediction errors without X : best prediction is the mean, so oursquared errors, or the total sum of squares (SStot) would be:

SStot =n∑

i=1

(Yi − Y )2

Once we have estimated our model, we have new prediction errors,which are just the sum of the squared residuals or SSres :

SSres =n∑

i=1

(Yi − Yi )2

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 75 / 101

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Prediction error

How do we judge how well a line fits the data?

One way is to find out how much better we do at predicting Y oncewe include X into the regression model.

Prediction errors without X : best prediction is the mean, so oursquared errors, or the total sum of squares (SStot) would be:

SStot =n∑

i=1

(Yi − Y )2

Once we have estimated our model, we have new prediction errors,which are just the sum of the squared residuals or SSres :

SSres =n∑

i=1

(Yi − Yi )2

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Sum of Squares

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Total Prediction Errors

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 76 / 101

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Sum of Squares

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

67

89

1011

12

Residuals

Log Settler Mortality

Log

GDP

per c

apita

gro

wth

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R-square

By definition, the residuals have to be smaller than the deviationsfrom the mean, so we might ask the following: how much lower is theSSres compared to the SStot?

We quantify this question with the coefficient of determination or R2.This is the following:

R2 =SStot − SSres

SStot= 1− SSres

SStot

This is the fraction of the total prediction error eliminated byproviding information on X .

Alternatively, this is the fraction of the variation in Y is “explainedby” X .

R2 = 0 means no relationship

R2 = 1 implies perfect linear fit

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R-square

By definition, the residuals have to be smaller than the deviationsfrom the mean, so we might ask the following: how much lower is theSSres compared to the SStot?

We quantify this question with the coefficient of determination or R2.This is the following:

R2 =SStot − SSres

SStot= 1− SSres

SStot

This is the fraction of the total prediction error eliminated byproviding information on X .

Alternatively, this is the fraction of the variation in Y is “explainedby” X .

R2 = 0 means no relationship

R2 = 1 implies perfect linear fit

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 77 / 101

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R-square

By definition, the residuals have to be smaller than the deviationsfrom the mean, so we might ask the following: how much lower is theSSres compared to the SStot?

We quantify this question with the coefficient of determination or R2.This is the following:

R2 =SStot − SSres

SStot= 1− SSres

SStot

This is the fraction of the total prediction error eliminated byproviding information on X .

Alternatively, this is the fraction of the variation in Y is “explainedby” X .

R2 = 0 means no relationship

R2 = 1 implies perfect linear fit

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 77 / 101

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R-square

By definition, the residuals have to be smaller than the deviationsfrom the mean, so we might ask the following: how much lower is theSSres compared to the SStot?

We quantify this question with the coefficient of determination or R2.This is the following:

R2 =SStot − SSres

SStot= 1− SSres

SStot

This is the fraction of the total prediction error eliminated byproviding information on X .

Alternatively, this is the fraction of the variation in Y is “explainedby” X .

R2 = 0 means no relationship

R2 = 1 implies perfect linear fit

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 77 / 101

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R-square

By definition, the residuals have to be smaller than the deviationsfrom the mean, so we might ask the following: how much lower is theSSres compared to the SStot?

We quantify this question with the coefficient of determination or R2.This is the following:

R2 =SStot − SSres

SStot= 1− SSres

SStot

This is the fraction of the total prediction error eliminated byproviding information on X .

Alternatively, this is the fraction of the variation in Y is “explainedby” X .

R2 = 0 means no relationship

R2 = 1 implies perfect linear fit

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 77 / 101

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R-square

By definition, the residuals have to be smaller than the deviationsfrom the mean, so we might ask the following: how much lower is theSSres compared to the SStot?

We quantify this question with the coefficient of determination or R2.This is the following:

R2 =SStot − SSres

SStot= 1− SSres

SStot

This is the fraction of the total prediction error eliminated byproviding information on X .

Alternatively, this is the fraction of the variation in Y is “explainedby” X .

R2 = 0 means no relationship

R2 = 1 implies perfect linear fit

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 77 / 101

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Is R-squared useful?

●●

●●

●●

●●

●●

●●

●●

●●

●●

●●

0 2 4 6 8 10

05

1015

x

y

R−squared = 0.66

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 78 / 101

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Is R-squared useful?

●●

●●

●●

●●

● ●

0 2 4 6 8 10

02

46

810

x

y

R−squared = 0.96

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 78 / 101

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Is R-squared useful?

●●

●●

●●

● ●

●●

● ●

● ●●

● ●

● ●

● ●●

●●

0 2 4 6 8 10

−10

010

20

x

y

R−squared = 0.27

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 78 / 101

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Is R-squared useful?

5 10 15

46

810

12

X

Y

5 10 15

46

810

12

X

Y

5 10 15

46

810

12

X

Y

5 10 15

46

810

12

X

Y

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 78 / 101

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1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 79 / 101

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1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

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OLS Assumptions Summary

!"#$%&'(%)$*+(,(*+#-'./0%)$*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

3$4/(-#"$#--*5)$-/-,#$'6*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

@(A--B?(.C)D*EF<3GH*I-680,)%'*!$J#.#$'#*************

EK*($"*!LH"

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

5:(--/'(:*<?*EF3GH*98(::B9(80:#*!$J#.#$'#***

E,*($"*NH*

1(./(%)$*/$*2*

7($")8*9(80:/$;*

</$#(./,6*/$*=(.(8#,#.-*

>#.)*5)$"/%)$(:*?#($*

M)8)-C#"(-%'/,6*

O).8(:/,6*)J*G..).-*

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:

I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:

I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

So far, we have learned the statistical properties of the OLS estimator

However, these properties do not tell us what types of inference wecan draw from the estimates

Three types of inference:

1 Descriptive inference:I Summarizing sample data by drawing the “best fitting” line

I No inference about the underlying population intended

I Assumption required: III (variation in X ) only

2 Predictive inference:I Inference about a new observation coming from the same population

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What’s my best guess about the wage of a new worker who only hashigh school education?”

I Assumptions required: III and II (random sampling)

I Assumptions desired: I (linearity)

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

3 Causal inference:I Inference about counterfactuals, i.e. hypothetical interventions to the

same units

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What would the wages of a non-college educated worker be if we sentthem to college?”

I We will come back to this in the last few weeks.

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

3 Causal inference:

I Inference about counterfactuals, i.e. hypothetical interventions to thesame units

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What would the wages of a non-college educated worker be if we sentthem to college?”

I We will come back to this in the last few weeks.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 82 / 101

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

3 Causal inference:I Inference about counterfactuals, i.e. hypothetical interventions to the

same units

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What would the wages of a non-college educated worker be if we sentthem to college?”

I We will come back to this in the last few weeks.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 82 / 101

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

3 Causal inference:I Inference about counterfactuals, i.e. hypothetical interventions to the

same units

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What would the wages of a non-college educated worker be if we sentthem to college?”

I We will come back to this in the last few weeks.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 82 / 101

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What Do the Regression Coefficients Mean Substantively?

3 Causal inference:I Inference about counterfactuals, i.e. hypothetical interventions to the

same units

I Example: Wage (Y ) and education (X ):“What would the wages of a non-college educated worker be if we sentthem to college?”

I We will come back to this in the last few weeks.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 82 / 101

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OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)

Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

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OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 83 / 101

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OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 83 / 101

Page 361: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 83 / 101

Page 362: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 83 / 101

Page 363: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 83 / 101

Page 364: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 83 / 101

Page 365: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 83 / 101

Page 366: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 83 / 101

Page 367: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

OLS as a Best Linear Predictor (Review of BLUE)Suppose that we want to predict the values of Y given observed X values

Suppose further that we’ve decided to use a linear predictor β0 + β1X (butnot necessarily assume a true linear relationship in the population)

How to choose a good predictor? A popular criterion is mean squared error:

MSE = E[(Yi − Yi )

2]

= E[(Yi − β0 − β1Xi )

2]

= E[u2i

]The smaller a predictor makes MSE , the better.

Now, note that the sample version of MSE = 1n

∑ni=1 u

2i

Recall how we got the OLS estimator; we minimized∑n

i=1 u2!

This implies that OLS is the best linear predictor in terms of MSE

Which assumptions did we use to get this result?

I Needed: Assumptions II (random sampling) and III (variation in X )I Not needed: Assumptions I (linearity) and IV (zero cond. mean)

Note that Assumption I would make OLS the best, not just best linear,predictor, so it is certainly desired

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 83 / 101

Page 368: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

State Legislators and African American PopulationInterpretations of increasing quality:

> summary(lm(beo ~ bpop, data = D))

Coefficients:

Estimate Std. Error t value Pr(>|t|)

(Intercept) -1.31489 0.32775 -4.012 0.000264 ***

bpop 0.35848 0.02519 14.232 < 2e-16 ***

---

Signif. codes: 0 *** 0.001 ** 0.01 * 0.05 . 0.1 1

Residual standard error: 1.317 on 39 degrees of freedom

Multiple R-squared: 0.8385,Adjusted R-squared: 0.8344

F-statistic: 202.6 on 1 and 39 DF, p-value: < 2.2e-16

“African American population is statistically significant (p < 0.001)”

(no effect size or direction)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 84 / 101

Page 369: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

State Legislators and African American PopulationInterpretations of increasing quality:

> summary(lm(beo ~ bpop, data = D))

Coefficients:

Estimate Std. Error t value Pr(>|t|)

(Intercept) -1.31489 0.32775 -4.012 0.000264 ***

bpop 0.35848 0.02519 14.232 < 2e-16 ***

---

Signif. codes: 0 *** 0.001 ** 0.01 * 0.05 . 0.1 1

Residual standard error: 1.317 on 39 degrees of freedom

Multiple R-squared: 0.8385,Adjusted R-squared: 0.8344

F-statistic: 202.6 on 1 and 39 DF, p-value: < 2.2e-16

“Percent African American legislators increases with African American population (p <0.001)”

(direction, but no effect size)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 84 / 101

Page 370: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

State Legislators and African American PopulationInterpretations of increasing quality:

> summary(lm(beo ~ bpop, data = D))

Coefficients:

Estimate Std. Error t value Pr(>|t|)

(Intercept) -1.31489 0.32775 -4.012 0.000264 ***

bpop 0.35848 0.02519 14.232 < 2e-16 ***

---

Signif. codes: 0 *** 0.001 ** 0.01 * 0.05 . 0.1 1

Residual standard error: 1.317 on 39 degrees of freedom

Multiple R-squared: 0.8385,Adjusted R-squared: 0.8344

F-statistic: 202.6 on 1 and 39 DF, p-value: < 2.2e-16

“A one percentage point increase in the African American population causes a 0.35 per-centage point increase in the fraction of African American state legislators (p < 0.001).”

(unwarranted causal language)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 84 / 101

Page 371: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

State Legislators and African American PopulationInterpretations of increasing quality:

> summary(lm(beo ~ bpop, data = D))

Coefficients:

Estimate Std. Error t value Pr(>|t|)

(Intercept) -1.31489 0.32775 -4.012 0.000264 ***

bpop 0.35848 0.02519 14.232 < 2e-16 ***

---

Signif. codes: 0 *** 0.001 ** 0.01 * 0.05 . 0.1 1

Residual standard error: 1.317 on 39 degrees of freedom

Multiple R-squared: 0.8385,Adjusted R-squared: 0.8344

F-statistic: 202.6 on 1 and 39 DF, p-value: < 2.2e-16

“A one percentage point increase in the African American population is associated witha 0.35 percentage point increase in the fraction of African American state legislators(p < 0.001).”

(hints at causality)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 84 / 101

Page 372: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

State Legislators and African American PopulationInterpretations of increasing quality:

> summary(lm(beo ~ bpop, data = D))

Coefficients:

Estimate Std. Error t value Pr(>|t|)

(Intercept) -1.31489 0.32775 -4.012 0.000264 ***

bpop 0.35848 0.02519 14.232 < 2e-16 ***

---

Signif. codes: 0 *** 0.001 ** 0.01 * 0.05 . 0.1 1

Residual standard error: 1.317 on 39 degrees of freedom

Multiple R-squared: 0.8385,Adjusted R-squared: 0.8344

F-statistic: 202.6 on 1 and 39 DF, p-value: < 2.2e-16

“In states where an additional .01 proportion of the population is African American, weobserve on average .035 proportion more African American state legislators (p < 0.001).”

(p value doesn’t help people with uncertainty)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 84 / 101

Page 373: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

State Legislators and African American PopulationInterpretations of increasing quality:

> summary(lm(beo ~ bpop, data = D))

Coefficients:

Estimate Std. Error t value Pr(>|t|)

(Intercept) -1.31489 0.32775 -4.012 0.000264 ***

bpop 0.35848 0.02519 14.232 < 2e-16 ***

---

Signif. codes: 0 *** 0.001 ** 0.01 * 0.05 . 0.1 1

Residual standard error: 1.317 on 39 degrees of freedom

Multiple R-squared: 0.8385,Adjusted R-squared: 0.8344

F-statistic: 202.6 on 1 and 39 DF, p-value: < 2.2e-16

“In states where an additional .01 proportion of the population is African American, weobserve on average .035 proportion more African American state legislators (between .03and .04 with 95% confidence).”

(still not perfect, the best will be subject matter specific. is fairly clear it is non-causal,gives uncertainty.)

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 84 / 101

Page 374: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

GraphicalGraphical presentations are often the most informative. We will talk moreabout them later in the semester.

0

1

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 85 / 101

Page 375: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Ground Rules: Interpretation of the Slope

I almost didn’t include the last example in the slides. It is hard to giveground rules that cover all cases. Regressions are a part of marshalingevidence in an argument which makes them naturally specific to context.

1 Give a short, but precise interpretation of the association usinginterpretable language and units

2 If the association has a causal interpretation explain why, otherwisedo not imply a causal interpretation.

3 Provide a meaningful sense of uncertainty

4 Indicate the practical significance of the finding for your argument.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 86 / 101

Page 376: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Ground Rules: Interpretation of the Slope

I almost didn’t include the last example in the slides. It is hard to giveground rules that cover all cases. Regressions are a part of marshalingevidence in an argument which makes them naturally specific to context.

1 Give a short, but precise interpretation of the association usinginterpretable language and units

2 If the association has a causal interpretation explain why, otherwisedo not imply a causal interpretation.

3 Provide a meaningful sense of uncertainty

4 Indicate the practical significance of the finding for your argument.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 86 / 101

Page 377: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Ground Rules: Interpretation of the Slope

I almost didn’t include the last example in the slides. It is hard to giveground rules that cover all cases. Regressions are a part of marshalingevidence in an argument which makes them naturally specific to context.

1 Give a short, but precise interpretation of the association usinginterpretable language and units

2 If the association has a causal interpretation explain why, otherwisedo not imply a causal interpretation.

3 Provide a meaningful sense of uncertainty

4 Indicate the practical significance of the finding for your argument.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 86 / 101

Page 378: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Ground Rules: Interpretation of the Slope

I almost didn’t include the last example in the slides. It is hard to giveground rules that cover all cases. Regressions are a part of marshalingevidence in an argument which makes them naturally specific to context.

1 Give a short, but precise interpretation of the association usinginterpretable language and units

2 If the association has a causal interpretation explain why, otherwisedo not imply a causal interpretation.

3 Provide a meaningful sense of uncertainty

4 Indicate the practical significance of the finding for your argument.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 86 / 101

Page 379: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Ground Rules: Interpretation of the Slope

I almost didn’t include the last example in the slides. It is hard to giveground rules that cover all cases. Regressions are a part of marshalingevidence in an argument which makes them naturally specific to context.

1 Give a short, but precise interpretation of the association usinginterpretable language and units

2 If the association has a causal interpretation explain why, otherwisedo not imply a causal interpretation.

3 Provide a meaningful sense of uncertainty

4 Indicate the practical significance of the finding for your argument.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 86 / 101

Page 380: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Ground Rules: Interpretation of the Slope

I almost didn’t include the last example in the slides. It is hard to giveground rules that cover all cases. Regressions are a part of marshalingevidence in an argument which makes them naturally specific to context.

1 Give a short, but precise interpretation of the association usinginterpretable language and units

2 If the association has a causal interpretation explain why, otherwisedo not imply a causal interpretation.

3 Provide a meaningful sense of uncertainty

4 Indicate the practical significance of the finding for your argument.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 86 / 101

Page 381: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Next Week

OLS with two regressors

Omitted Variables and Multicolinearity

Dummy variables, interactions, polynomials

Reading:I Optional Fox Chapters 5-7I For more on logs, Gelman and Hill (2007) pg 59-61 is nice

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 87 / 101

Page 382: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Next Week

OLS with two regressors

Omitted Variables and Multicolinearity

Dummy variables, interactions, polynomials

Reading:I Optional Fox Chapters 5-7I For more on logs, Gelman and Hill (2007) pg 59-61 is nice

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 87 / 101

Page 383: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Next Week

OLS with two regressors

Omitted Variables and Multicolinearity

Dummy variables, interactions, polynomials

Reading:I Optional Fox Chapters 5-7I For more on logs, Gelman and Hill (2007) pg 59-61 is nice

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 87 / 101

Page 384: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Next Week

OLS with two regressors

Omitted Variables and Multicolinearity

Dummy variables, interactions, polynomials

Reading:I Optional Fox Chapters 5-7I For more on logs, Gelman and Hill (2007) pg 59-61 is nice

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 87 / 101

Page 385: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Next Week

OLS with two regressors

Omitted Variables and Multicolinearity

Dummy variables, interactions, polynomials

Reading:I Optional Fox Chapters 5-7I For more on logs, Gelman and Hill (2007) pg 59-61 is nice

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 87 / 101

Page 386: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 88 / 101

Page 387: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 88 / 101

Page 388: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Fun with Non-Linearities

The linear regression model can accommodate non-linearity in X (butnot in β)

We do this by first transforming X appropriately

A useful transformation when variables are positive and right-skewedis the (natural) logarithm

The log transformation changes the interpretation of β1:

I Regress log(Y ) on X −→ β1 approximates percent increase in Yassociated with one unit increase in X

I Regress Y on log(X ) −→ β1 approximates increase in Y associatedwith a percent increase in X

I Note that these approximations work only for small increments

I In particular, they do not work when X is a discrete random variable

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 89 / 101

Page 389: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Fun with Non-Linearities

The linear regression model can accommodate non-linearity in X (butnot in β)

We do this by first transforming X appropriately

A useful transformation when variables are positive and right-skewedis the (natural) logarithm

The log transformation changes the interpretation of β1:

I Regress log(Y ) on X −→ β1 approximates percent increase in Yassociated with one unit increase in X

I Regress Y on log(X ) −→ β1 approximates increase in Y associatedwith a percent increase in X

I Note that these approximations work only for small increments

I In particular, they do not work when X is a discrete random variable

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 89 / 101

Page 390: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Fun with Non-Linearities

The linear regression model can accommodate non-linearity in X (butnot in β)

We do this by first transforming X appropriately

A useful transformation when variables are positive and right-skewedis the (natural) logarithm

The log transformation changes the interpretation of β1:

I Regress log(Y ) on X −→ β1 approximates percent increase in Yassociated with one unit increase in X

I Regress Y on log(X ) −→ β1 approximates increase in Y associatedwith a percent increase in X

I Note that these approximations work only for small increments

I In particular, they do not work when X is a discrete random variable

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 89 / 101

Page 391: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Fun with Non-Linearities

The linear regression model can accommodate non-linearity in X (butnot in β)

We do this by first transforming X appropriately

A useful transformation when variables are positive and right-skewedis the (natural) logarithm

The log transformation changes the interpretation of β1:

I Regress log(Y ) on X −→ β1 approximates percent increase in Yassociated with one unit increase in X

I Regress Y on log(X ) −→ β1 approximates increase in Y associatedwith a percent increase in X

I Note that these approximations work only for small increments

I In particular, they do not work when X is a discrete random variable

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 89 / 101

Page 392: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Fun with Non-Linearities

The linear regression model can accommodate non-linearity in X (butnot in β)

We do this by first transforming X appropriately

A useful transformation when variables are positive and right-skewedis the (natural) logarithm

The log transformation changes the interpretation of β1:

I Regress log(Y ) on X −→ β1 approximates percent increase in Yassociated with one unit increase in X

I Regress Y on log(X ) −→ β1 approximates increase in Y associatedwith a percent increase in X

I Note that these approximations work only for small increments

I In particular, they do not work when X is a discrete random variable

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 89 / 101

Page 393: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Fun with Non-Linearities

The linear regression model can accommodate non-linearity in X (butnot in β)

We do this by first transforming X appropriately

A useful transformation when variables are positive and right-skewedis the (natural) logarithm

The log transformation changes the interpretation of β1:

I Regress log(Y ) on X −→ β1 approximates percent increase in Yassociated with one unit increase in X

I Regress Y on log(X ) −→ β1 approximates increase in Y associatedwith a percent increase in X

I Note that these approximations work only for small increments

I In particular, they do not work when X is a discrete random variable

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 89 / 101

Page 394: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Fun with Non-Linearities

The linear regression model can accommodate non-linearity in X (butnot in β)

We do this by first transforming X appropriately

A useful transformation when variables are positive and right-skewedis the (natural) logarithm

The log transformation changes the interpretation of β1:

I Regress log(Y ) on X −→ β1 approximates percent increase in Yassociated with one unit increase in X

I Regress Y on log(X ) −→ β1 approximates increase in Y associatedwith a percent increase in X

I Note that these approximations work only for small increments

I In particular, they do not work when X is a discrete random variable

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 89 / 101

Page 395: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Fun with Non-Linearities

The linear regression model can accommodate non-linearity in X (butnot in β)

We do this by first transforming X appropriately

A useful transformation when variables are positive and right-skewedis the (natural) logarithm

The log transformation changes the interpretation of β1:

I Regress log(Y ) on X −→ β1 approximates percent increase in Yassociated with one unit increase in X

I Regress Y on log(X ) −→ β1 approximates increase in Y associatedwith a percent increase in X

I Note that these approximations work only for small increments

I In particular, they do not work when X is a discrete random variable

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 89 / 101

Page 396: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Fun with Non-Linearities

The linear regression model can accommodate non-linearity in X (butnot in β)

We do this by first transforming X appropriately

A useful transformation when variables are positive and right-skewedis the (natural) logarithm

The log transformation changes the interpretation of β1:

I Regress log(Y ) on X −→ β1 approximates percent increase in Yassociated with one unit increase in X

I Regress Y on log(X ) −→ β1 approximates increase in Y associatedwith a percent increase in X

I Note that these approximations work only for small increments

I In particular, they do not work when X is a discrete random variable

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 89 / 101

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Example from the American War Library

●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

●●

●●

0e+00 1e+05 2e+05 3e+05 4e+05 5e+05

0e+

001e

+05

2e+

053e

+05

4e+

055e

+05

6e+

05

X: Numbers of American Soldiers Killed in Action

Y: N

umbe

rs o

f Am

eric

an S

oldi

ers

Wou

nded

in A

ctio

n

JapanItaly TriesteNicaraguaTexas Border Cortina WarHaitiOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan TheaterMexican WarOperation Enduring Freedom, AfghanistanFranco−Amer Naval WarNorth Atlantic Naval WarTerrorism Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaChina Civil WarDominican RepublicRussia Siberia ExpeditionBarbary WarsNicaraguaMexicoChina Yangtze ServiceGrenadaSouth KoreaTexas War Of IndependenceLebanonIsrael Attack/USS LibertyDominican RepublicPanamaChina Boxer RebellionMoro CampaignsRussia North ExpeditionPersian Gulf, Op Desert Shield/StormTerrorism Oklahoma CityPersian GulfTerrorism Khobar Towers, Saudi ArabiaYemen, USS ColeTerrorism, World Trade CenterSpanish American WarIndian WarsPhilippines WarD−DayAleutian CampaignWar of 1812Revolutionary WarIwo JimaOperation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq

Okinawa

Korean War

Civil War, SouthVietnam War

World War I

Civil War, North

World War II

β1 = 1.23 −→

One additional soldier killed predicts 1.23 additional soldierswounded on average

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 90 / 101

Page 398: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Example from the American War Library

●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

●●

●●

0e+00 1e+05 2e+05 3e+05 4e+05 5e+05

0e+

001e

+05

2e+

053e

+05

4e+

055e

+05

6e+

05

X: Numbers of American Soldiers Killed in Action

Y: N

umbe

rs o

f Am

eric

an S

oldi

ers

Wou

nded

in A

ctio

n

JapanItaly TriesteNicaraguaTexas Border Cortina WarHaitiOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan TheaterMexican WarOperation Enduring Freedom, AfghanistanFranco−Amer Naval WarNorth Atlantic Naval WarTerrorism Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaChina Civil WarDominican RepublicRussia Siberia ExpeditionBarbary WarsNicaraguaMexicoChina Yangtze ServiceGrenadaSouth KoreaTexas War Of IndependenceLebanonIsrael Attack/USS LibertyDominican RepublicPanamaChina Boxer RebellionMoro CampaignsRussia North ExpeditionPersian Gulf, Op Desert Shield/StormTerrorism Oklahoma CityPersian GulfTerrorism Khobar Towers, Saudi ArabiaYemen, USS ColeTerrorism, World Trade CenterSpanish American WarIndian WarsPhilippines WarD−DayAleutian CampaignWar of 1812Revolutionary WarIwo JimaOperation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq

Okinawa

Korean War

Civil War, SouthVietnam War

World War I

Civil War, North

World War II

β1 = 1.23 −→ One additional soldier killed predicts 1.23 additional soldierswounded on average

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 90 / 101

Page 399: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Wounded (Scale in Levels)

JapanItaly TriesteNicaraguaTexas Border Cortina WarHaitiOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan TheaterMexican WarOperation Enduring Freedom, AfghanistanFranco−Amer Naval WarNorth Atlantic Naval WarTerrorism Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaChina Civil WarDominican RepublicRussia Siberia ExpeditionBarbary WarsNicaraguaMexicoChina Yangtze ServiceGrenadaSouth KoreaTexas War Of IndependenceLebanonIsrael Attack/USS LibertyDominican RepublicPanamaChina Boxer RebellionMoro CampaignsRussia North ExpeditionPersian Gulf, Op Desert Shield/StormTerrorism Oklahoma CityPersian GulfTerrorism Khobar Towers, Saudi ArabiaYemen, USS ColeTerrorism, World Trade CenterSpanish American WarIndian WarsPhilippines WarD−DayAleutian CampaignWar of 1812Revolutionary WarIwo JimaOperation Iraqi Freedom, IraqOkinawaKorean WarCivil War, SouthVietnam WarWorld War ICivil War, NorthWorld War II

0e+00 1e+05 2e+05 3e+05 4e+05 5e+05 6e+05

Number of Wounded

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 91 / 101

Page 400: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Wounded (Logarithmic Scale)

JapanItaly TriesteNicaraguaTexas Border Cortina WarHaitiOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan TheaterMexican WarOperation Enduring Freedom, AfghanistanFranco−Amer Naval WarNorth Atlantic Naval WarTerrorism Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaChina Civil WarDominican RepublicRussia Siberia ExpeditionBarbary WarsNicaraguaMexicoChina Yangtze ServiceGrenadaSouth KoreaTexas War Of IndependenceLebanonIsrael Attack/USS LibertyDominican RepublicPanamaChina Boxer RebellionMoro CampaignsRussia North ExpeditionPersian Gulf, Op Desert Shield/StormTerrorism Oklahoma CityPersian GulfTerrorism Khobar Towers, Saudi ArabiaYemen, USS ColeTerrorism, World Trade CenterSpanish American WarIndian WarsPhilippines WarD−DayAleutian CampaignWar of 1812Revolutionary WarIwo JimaOperation Iraqi Freedom, IraqOkinawaKorean WarCivil War, SouthVietnam WarWorld War ICivil War, NorthWorld War II

2 4 6 8 10 12

Log(Number of Wounded)

10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000

Number of Wounded

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 92 / 101

Page 401: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Regression: Log-Level

●●●

●●●●

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

●●●●●●●●●

●●●●

●●●

0e+00 1e+05 2e+05 3e+05 4e+05

24

68

1012

X: Numbers of American Soldiers Killed in Action

Y: l

og(N

umbe

rs o

f Am

eric

an S

oldi

ers

Wou

nded

in A

ctio

n)

Japan

Italy TriesteNicaraguaTexas Border Cortina WarHaitiOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan TheaterMexican WarOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan

Franco−Amer Naval WarNorth Atlantic Naval WarTerrorism Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaChina Civil WarDominican RepublicRussia Siberia ExpeditionBarbary WarsNicaraguaMexicoChina Yangtze Service

GrenadaSouth KoreaTexas War Of Independence

LebanonIsrael Attack/USS LibertyDominican RepublicPanamaChina Boxer Rebellion

Moro CampaignsRussia North ExpeditionPersian Gulf, Op Desert Shield/StormTerrorism Oklahoma CityPersian GulfTerrorism Khobar Towers, Saudi ArabiaYemen, USS Cole

Terrorism, World Trade Center

Spanish American WarIndian Wars

Philippines WarD−DayAleutian CampaignWar of 1812

Revolutionary War

Iwo JimaOperation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq

Okinawa

Korean WarCivil War, SouthVietnam War

World War ICivil War, North

World War II

β1 = 0.0000237 −→

One additional soldier killed predicts 0.0023 percent increasein the number of soldiers wounded on average

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 93 / 101

Page 402: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

Regression: Log-Level

●●●

●●●●

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

●●●●●●●●●

●●●●

●●●

0e+00 1e+05 2e+05 3e+05 4e+05

24

68

1012

X: Numbers of American Soldiers Killed in Action

Y: l

og(N

umbe

rs o

f Am

eric

an S

oldi

ers

Wou

nded

in A

ctio

n)

Japan

Italy TriesteNicaraguaTexas Border Cortina WarHaitiOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan TheaterMexican WarOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan

Franco−Amer Naval WarNorth Atlantic Naval WarTerrorism Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaChina Civil WarDominican RepublicRussia Siberia ExpeditionBarbary WarsNicaraguaMexicoChina Yangtze Service

GrenadaSouth KoreaTexas War Of Independence

LebanonIsrael Attack/USS LibertyDominican RepublicPanamaChina Boxer Rebellion

Moro CampaignsRussia North ExpeditionPersian Gulf, Op Desert Shield/StormTerrorism Oklahoma CityPersian GulfTerrorism Khobar Towers, Saudi ArabiaYemen, USS Cole

Terrorism, World Trade Center

Spanish American WarIndian Wars

Philippines WarD−DayAleutian CampaignWar of 1812

Revolutionary War

Iwo JimaOperation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq

Okinawa

Korean WarCivil War, SouthVietnam War

World War ICivil War, North

World War II

β1 = 0.0000237 −→ One additional soldier killed predicts 0.0023 percent increasein the number of soldiers wounded on average

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 93 / 101

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Regression: Log-Log

●●●

●●●●

● ●● ● ●●● ●●

●●

● ●●● ●

● ●● ●

●●●●

●●

●●●

●●●

2 4 6 8 10 12

24

68

1012

X: Log(Numbers of American Soldiers Killed in Action)

Y: L

og(N

umbe

rs o

f Am

eric

an S

oldi

ers

Wou

nded

in A

ctio

n)

Japan

Italy TriesteNicaraguaTexas Border Cortina WarHaitiOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan Theater Mexican WarOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan

Franco−Amer Naval WarNorth Atlantic Naval WarTerrorism Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaChina Civil War Dominican RepublicRussia Siberia ExpeditionBarbary Wars NicaraguaMexicoChina Yangtze Service

GrenadaSouth KoreaTexas War Of Independence

LebanonIsrael Attack/USS LibertyDominican RepublicPanamaChina Boxer Rebellion

Moro CampaignsRussia North ExpeditionPersian Gulf, Op Desert Shield/StormTerrorism Oklahoma CityPersian GulfTerrorism Khobar Towers, Saudi ArabiaYemen, USS Cole

Terrorism, World Trade Center

Spanish American WarIndian Wars

Philippines WarD−DayAleutian CampaignWar of 1812

Revolutionary War

Iwo JimaOperation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq

Okinawa

Korean WarCivil War, SouthVietnam War

World War ICivil War, North

World War II

β1 = 0.797 −→

A percent increase in deaths predicts 0.797 percent increase inthe wounded on average

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 94 / 101

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Regression: Log-Log

●●●

●●●●

● ●● ● ●●● ●●

●●

● ●●● ●

● ●● ●

●●●●

●●

●●●

●●●

2 4 6 8 10 12

24

68

1012

X: Log(Numbers of American Soldiers Killed in Action)

Y: L

og(N

umbe

rs o

f Am

eric

an S

oldi

ers

Wou

nded

in A

ctio

n)

Japan

Italy TriesteNicaraguaTexas Border Cortina WarHaitiOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan Theater Mexican WarOperation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan

Franco−Amer Naval WarNorth Atlantic Naval WarTerrorism Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaChina Civil War Dominican RepublicRussia Siberia ExpeditionBarbary Wars NicaraguaMexicoChina Yangtze Service

GrenadaSouth KoreaTexas War Of Independence

LebanonIsrael Attack/USS LibertyDominican RepublicPanamaChina Boxer Rebellion

Moro CampaignsRussia North ExpeditionPersian Gulf, Op Desert Shield/StormTerrorism Oklahoma CityPersian GulfTerrorism Khobar Towers, Saudi ArabiaYemen, USS Cole

Terrorism, World Trade Center

Spanish American WarIndian Wars

Philippines WarD−DayAleutian CampaignWar of 1812

Revolutionary War

Iwo JimaOperation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq

Okinawa

Korean WarCivil War, SouthVietnam War

World War ICivil War, North

World War II

β1 = 0.797 −→ A percent increase in deaths predicts 0.797 percent increase inthe wounded on average

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 94 / 101

Page 405: Week 5: Simple Linear Regression - Princeton University · What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It Regression in the Social Sciences and Introduction to Causality Thanksgiving Causality

1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 95 / 101

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1 Mechanics of OLS

2 Properties of the OLS estimator

3 Example and Review

4 Properties Continued

5 Hypothesis tests for regression

6 Confidence intervals for regression

7 Goodness of fit

8 Wrap Up of Univariate Regression

9 Fun with Non-Linearities

10 Appendix: r2 derivation

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 95 / 101

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Why r 2?

To calculate r2, we need to think about the following two quantities:

1 TSS: Total sum of squares

2 SSE: Sum of squared errors

TSS =n∑

i=1

(yi − y)2.

SSE =n∑

i=1

u2i .

r2 = 1− SSE

TSS.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 96 / 101

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0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

2030

4050

6070

8090

SCscore

CLl

ib

Black

Reed

Frankfurter

Douglas

Jackson

Burton

Clark

Minton

Warren

HarlanWhittaker

Brennan

Stewart

White

Goldberg

FortasMarshall

Burger

Blackmun

Powell

Rehnquist

Stevens

O'Connor

Scalia

Kennedy

Souter

Thomas

TSS

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 97 / 101

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0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

2030

4050

6070

8090

SCscore

CLl

ib

Black

Reed

Frankfurter

Douglas

Jackson

Burton

Clark

Minton

Warren

HarlanWhittaker

Brennan

Stewart

White

Goldberg

FortasMarshall

Burger

Blackmun

Powell

Rehnquist

Stevens

O'Connor

Scalia

Kennedy

Souter

Thomas

TSSSSE

1−SSE/TSS = 0.45

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 98 / 101

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Derivation

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2 =n∑

i=1

{ui + (yi − y)}2

=n∑

i=1

{u2i + 2ui (yi − y) + (yi − y)2}

=n∑

i=1

u2i + 2

n∑i=1

ui (yi − y) +n∑

i=1

(yi − y)2

=n∑

i=1

u2i +

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2

TSS = SSE + RegSS

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 99 / 101

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Derivation

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2 =n∑

i=1

{ui + (yi − y)}2

=n∑

i=1

{u2i + 2ui (yi − y) + (yi − y)2}

=n∑

i=1

u2i + 2

n∑i=1

ui (yi − y) +n∑

i=1

(yi − y)2

=n∑

i=1

u2i +

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2

TSS = SSE + RegSS

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 99 / 101

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Derivation

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2 =n∑

i=1

{ui + (yi − y)}2

=n∑

i=1

{u2i + 2ui (yi − y) + (yi − y)2}

=n∑

i=1

u2i + 2

n∑i=1

ui (yi − y) +n∑

i=1

(yi − y)2

=n∑

i=1

u2i +

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2

TSS = SSE + RegSS

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 99 / 101

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Derivation

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2 =n∑

i=1

{ui + (yi − y)}2

=n∑

i=1

{u2i + 2ui (yi − y) + (yi − y)2}

=n∑

i=1

u2i + 2

n∑i=1

ui (yi − y) +n∑

i=1

(yi − y)2

=n∑

i=1

u2i +

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2

TSS = SSE + RegSS

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 99 / 101

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Derivation

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2 =n∑

i=1

{ui + (yi − y)}2

=n∑

i=1

{u2i + 2ui (yi − y) + (yi − y)2}

=n∑

i=1

u2i + 2

n∑i=1

ui (yi − y) +n∑

i=1

(yi − y)2

=n∑

i=1

u2i +

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2

TSS = SSE + RegSS

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 99 / 101

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Derivation

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2 =n∑

i=1

{ui + (yi − y)}2

=n∑

i=1

{u2i + 2ui (yi − y) + (yi − y)2}

=n∑

i=1

u2i + 2

n∑i=1

ui (yi − y) +n∑

i=1

(yi − y)2

=n∑

i=1

u2i +

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2

TSS = SSE + RegSS

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 99 / 101

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Derivation

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2 =n∑

i=1

{ui + (yi − y)}2

=n∑

i=1

{u2i + 2ui (yi − y) + (yi − y)2}

=n∑

i=1

u2i + 2

n∑i=1

ui (yi − y) +n∑

i=1

(yi − y)2

=n∑

i=1

u2i +

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2

TSS = SSE + RegSS

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 99 / 101

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Derivation

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2 =n∑

i=1

{ui + (yi − y)}2

=n∑

i=1

{u2i + 2ui (yi − y) + (yi − y)2}

=n∑

i=1

u2i + 2

n∑i=1

ui (yi − y) +n∑

i=1

(yi − y)2

=n∑

i=1

u2i +

n∑i=1

(yi − y)2

TSS = SSE + RegSS

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 99 / 101

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Coefficient of Determination

We can divide each side by the TSS:

SSE

TSS+

RegSS

TSS=

TSS

TSS

SSE

TSS+

RegSS

TSS= 1

RegSS

TSS= 1− SSE

TSS= r2

r2 is a measure of how much of the variation in Y is accounted for by X .

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 100 / 101

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Coefficient of Determination

We can divide each side by the TSS:

SSE

TSS+

RegSS

TSS=

TSS

TSS

SSE

TSS+

RegSS

TSS= 1

RegSS

TSS= 1− SSE

TSS= r2

r2 is a measure of how much of the variation in Y is accounted for by X .

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 100 / 101

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Coefficient of Determination

We can divide each side by the TSS:

SSE

TSS+

RegSS

TSS=

TSS

TSS

SSE

TSS+

RegSS

TSS= 1

RegSS

TSS= 1− SSE

TSS= r2

r2 is a measure of how much of the variation in Y is accounted for by X .

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 100 / 101

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Coefficient of Determination

We can divide each side by the TSS:

SSE

TSS+

RegSS

TSS=

TSS

TSS

SSE

TSS+

RegSS

TSS= 1

RegSS

TSS= 1− SSE

TSS= r2

r2 is a measure of how much of the variation in Y is accounted for by X .

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 100 / 101

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References

Acemoglu, Daron, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson. “The colonialorigins of comparative development: An empirical investigation.” 2000.

Wooldridge, Jeffrey. 2000. Introductory Econometrics. New York:South-Western.

Stewart (Princeton) Week 5: Simple Linear Regression October 8, 10, 2018 101 / 101