Interpreting coefficients

Lucy D’Agostino McGowan

Interpreting coefficients

In general, in what context are we concerned with interpreting coefficients, prediction or inference?

Interpreting coefficients

model type interpretation of \(\hat\beta\)
simple linear regression

Interpreting coefficients

model type interpretation of \(\hat\beta\)
simple linear regression A one unit change in \(x\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1\)

Note: Always state what the units are for \(x\) and what the units are for \(y\) in the context of the problem

Interpreting coefficients

model type interpretation of \(\hat\beta\)
simple linear regression A one unit change in \(x\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1\)
multiple linear regression where \(x_i\) is only included once in the model A one unit change in \(x_i\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_i\) holding all other variables constant

Note: Always state what the units are for \(x\) and what the units are for \(y\) in the context of the problem AND what the variables being held constant are

Interpreting coefficients

model type interpretation of \(\hat\beta\)
simple linear regression A one unit change in \(x\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1\)
multiple linear regression where \(x_i\) is only included once in the model A one unit change in \(x_i\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_i\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic of \(x_i\) is also included

Interpreting coefficients

model type interpretation of \(\hat\beta\)
simple linear regression A one unit change in \(x\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1\)
multiple linear regression where \(x_i\) is only included once in the model A one unit change in \(x_i\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_i\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic of \(x_i\) is also included A change in \(x_i\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_{x_i}(b-a) + \hat\beta_{x_i^2}(b^2-a^2)\) holding all other variables constant

Interpreting coefficients

model type interpretation of \(\hat\beta\)
simple linear regression A one unit change in \(x\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1\)
multiple linear regression where \(x_i\) is only included once in the model A one unit change in \(x_i\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_i\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic of \(x_i\) is also included A change in \(x_i\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_{x_i}(b-a) + \hat\beta_{x_i^2}(b^2-a^2)\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic and cubic term of \(x_i\) are also included

Interpreting coefficients

model type interpretation of \(\hat\beta\)
simple linear regression A one unit change in \(x\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1\)
multiple linear regression where \(x_i\) is only included once in the model A one unit change in \(x_i\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_i\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic of \(x_i\) is also included A change in \(x_i\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_{x_i}(b-a) + \hat\beta_{x_i^2}(b^2-a^2)\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic and cubic term of \(x_i\) are also included A change in \(x_i\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_{x_i}(b-a) + \hat\beta_{x_i^2}(b^2-a^2)+ \hat\beta_{x_i^3}(b^3-a^3)\) holding all other variables constant

Interpreting coefficients

model type interpretation of \(\hat\beta\)
simple linear regression A one unit change in \(x\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1\)
multiple linear regression where \(x_i\) is only included once in the model A one unit change in \(x_i\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_i\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic of \(x_i\) is also included A change in \(x_i\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_{x_i}(b-a) + \hat\beta_{x_i^2}(b^2-a^2)\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic and cubic term of \(x_i\) are also included A change in \(x_i\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_{x_i}(b-a) + \hat\beta_{x_i^2}(b^2-a^2)+ \hat\beta_{x_i^3}(b^3-a^3)\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where an interaction of \(x_i\) with a binary variable is included

Interpreting coefficients

model type interpretation of \(\hat\beta\)
simple linear regression A one unit change in \(x\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1\)
multiple linear regression where \(x_i\) is only included once in the model A one unit change in \(x_i\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_i\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic of \(x_i\) is also included A change in \(x_i\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_{x_i}(b-a) + \hat\beta_{x_i^2}(b^2-a^2)\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where a quadratic and cubic term of \(x_i\) are also included A change in \(x_i\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_{x_i}(b-a) + \hat\beta_{x_i^2}(b^2-a^2)+ \hat\beta_{x_i^3}(b^3-a^3)\) holding all other variables constant
multiple linear regression where an interaction of \(x_1\) with a variable \(x_{2}\) is included A one unit change in \(x_1\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1\) when \(x_{2}=0\) holding all other variables constant

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x\]

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_0\)?

“When \(x=0\) the average value for y is \(\hat\beta_0\)

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_1\)?

“For every one unit increase in x the expected change in y is \(\hat\beta_1\)

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_0\)?

“When \(x_1=0\) and \(x_2 = 0\), the average value for y is \(\hat\beta_0\)

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_1\)?

“For every one unit increase in x the expected change in y is \(\hat\beta_1\) holding \(x_2\) constant”

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_1^2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_0\)?

“When \(x_1=0\), the average value for \(y\) is \(\hat\beta_0\)

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_1^2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_1\)?

We cannot interpret \(\hat\beta_1\) independent of \(\hat\beta_2\). \(\hat\beta_1\) is the linear term for \(x_1\) and \(\hat\beta_2\) is the quadratic term for \(x_1\), a change in \(x_1\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1(b-a)+\hat\beta_2(b^2-a^2)\).

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_1^2+\hat\beta_3x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_1\)?

We cannot interpret \(\hat\beta_1\) independent of \(\hat\beta_2\). \(\hat\beta_1\) is the linear term for \(x_1\) and \(\hat\beta_2\) is the quadratic term for \(x_1\), a change in \(x_1\) from \(a\) to \(b\) yields an expected change in \(y\) of \(\hat\beta_1(b-a)+\hat\beta_2(b^2-a^2)\) holding \(x_2\) constant.

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2 + \hat\beta_3x_1\times x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_0\)?

“When \(x_1=0\) and \(x_2=0\), the average value for \(y\) is \(\hat\beta_0\)

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2 + \hat\beta_3x_1\times x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_1\)?

“When \(x_2=0\), for every one unit increase in \(x_1\) the expected change in y is \(\hat\beta_1\)

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2 + \hat\beta_3x_1\times x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_2\)?

“When \(x_1=0\), for every one unit increase in \(x_2\) the expected change in y is \(\hat\beta_2\)

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2 + \hat\beta_3x_1\times x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_3\)?

“For every one unit increase in \(x_1\) the expected change in slope for \(x_2\) is \(\hat\beta_3\)

“For every one unit increase in \(x_2\) the expected change in slope for \(x_1\) is \(\hat\beta_3\)

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2 + \hat\beta_3x_3 + \hat\beta_4x_1\times x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_0\)?

“When \(x_1=0\), \(x_2=0\), and \(x_3=0\), the average value for \(y\) is \(\hat\beta_0\)

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2 + \hat\beta_3x_3 + \hat\beta_4x_1\times x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_1\)?

“When \(x_2=0\), for every one unit increase in \(x_1\) the expected change in y is \(\hat\beta_1\) holding \(x_3\) constant”

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2 + \hat\beta_3x_3 + \hat\beta_4x_1\times x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_2\)?

“When \(x_1=0\), for every one unit increase in \(x_2\) the expected change in y is \(\hat\beta_2\) holding \(x_3\) constant”

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2 + \hat\beta_3x_3 + \hat\beta_4x_1\times x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_3\)?

“For every one unit increase in \(x_3\) the expected change in y is \(\hat\beta_3\), holding \(x_1\) and \(x_2\) constant”

Examples

\[\hat{y} = \hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1x_1 + \hat\beta_2x_2 + \hat\beta_3x_3 + \hat\beta_4x_1\times x_2\]

How do you interpret \(\hat\beta_4\)?

“For every one unit increase in \(x_1\) the expected change in slope for \(x_2\) is \(\hat\beta_4\) holding \(x_3\) constant”

“For every one unit increase in \(x_2\) the expected change in slope for \(x_1\) is \(\hat\beta_4\) holding \(x_3\) constant”