This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by LAND, K. C. Articles by NAGIN, D. S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

A Comparison of Poisson, Negative Binomial, and Semiparametric Mixed Poisson Regression Models

With Empirical Applications to Criminal Careers Data

Duke University

PATRICIA L. McCALL

North Carolina State University

DANIEL S. NAGIN

Carnegie-Mellon University

Specifications and moment properties of the univariate Poisson and negative binomial distributions are briefly reviewed and illustrated. Properties and limitations of the corresponding poisson and negative binomial (gamma mixtures of Poissons) regression models are described. It is shown how a misspecification of the mixing distribution of a mixed Poisson model to accommodate hidden heterogeneity ascribable to unobserved variables—although not affecting the consistency of maximum likelihood estimators of the Poisson mean rate parameter or its regression parameterization—can lead to inflated t ratios of regression coefficients and associated incorrect inferences. Then the recently developed semiparametric maximum likelihood estimator for regression models composed of arbitrary mixtures of Poisson processes is specified and further developed. It is concluded that the semiparametric mixed Poisson regression model adds considerable flexibility to Poisson-family regression models and provides opportunities for interpretation of empirical patterns not available in the conventional approaches.

Sociological Methods & Research, Vol. 24, No. 4, 387-442 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/0049124196024004001


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Fontaine, R. Carbonneau, E. D. Barker, F. Vitaro, M. Hebert, S. M. Cote, D. S. Nagin, M. Zoccolillo, and R. E. Tremblay Girls' Hyperactivity and Physical Aggression During Childhood and Adjustment Problems in Early Adulthood: A 15-Year Longitudinal Study Arch Gen Psychiatry, March 1, 2008; 65(3): 320 - 328. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Bottcher and M. E. Ezell Examining the Effectiveness of Boot Camps: A Randomized Experiment with a Long-Term Follow Up Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, August 1, 2005; 42(3): 309 - 332. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. van Thiel Trends in the Public Sector: Why Politicians Prefer Quasi-Autonomous Organizations Journal of Theoretical Politics, April 1, 2004; 16(2): 175 - 201. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. D. Reisig, K. Holtfreter, and M. Morash Social Capital Among Women Offenders: Examining the Distribution of Social Networks and Resources Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, May 1, 2002; 18(2): 167 - 187. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. D. Reisig Administrative Control and Inmate Homicide Homicide Studies, February 1, 2002; 6(1): 84 - 103. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. McDERMOTT and D. S. NAGIN Same or Different?: Comparing Offender Groups and Covariates Over Time Sociological Methods Research, February 1, 2001; 29(3): 282 - 318. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. L. JONES, D. S. NAGIN, and K. ROEDER A SAS Procedure Based on Mixture Models for Estimating Developmental Trajectories Sociological Methods Research, February 1, 2001; 29(3): 374 - 393. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. A. Musick, D. G. Blazer, and J. C. Hays Religious Activity, Alcohol Use, and Depression in a Sample of Elderly Baptists Research on Aging, March 1, 2000; 22(2): 91 - 116. [Abstract] [PDF]