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Main Authors: Ullmann, Theresa, Heinze, Georg, Abrahamowicz, Michal, Perperoglou, Aris, Sauerbrei, Willi, Schmid, Matthias, Dunkler, Daniela, initiative, for TG2 of the STRATOS
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.16981
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author Ullmann, Theresa
Heinze, Georg
Abrahamowicz, Michal
Perperoglou, Aris
Sauerbrei, Willi
Schmid, Matthias
Dunkler, Daniela
initiative, for TG2 of the STRATOS
author_facet Ullmann, Theresa
Heinze, Georg
Abrahamowicz, Michal
Perperoglou, Aris
Sauerbrei, Willi
Schmid, Matthias
Dunkler, Daniela
initiative, for TG2 of the STRATOS
contents In regression analysis, associations between continuous predictors and the outcome are often assumed to be linear. However, modeling the associations as non-linear can improve model fit. Many flexible modeling techniques, like (fractional) polynomials and spline-based approaches, are available. Such methods can be systematically compared in simulation studies, which require suitable performance measures to evaluate the accuracy of the estimated curves against the true data-generating functions. Although various measures have been proposed in the literature, no systematic overview exists so far. To fill this gap, we introduce a categorization of performance measures for evaluating estimated non-linear associations between an outcome and continuous predictors. This categorization includes many commonly used measures. The measures can not only be used in simulation studies, but also in application studies to compare different estimates to each other. We further illustrate and compare the behavior of different performance measures through some examples and a Shiny app.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_16981
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A categorization of performance measures for estimated non-linear associations between an outcome and continuous predictors
Ullmann, Theresa
Heinze, Georg
Abrahamowicz, Michal
Perperoglou, Aris
Sauerbrei, Willi
Schmid, Matthias
Dunkler, Daniela
initiative, for TG2 of the STRATOS
Methodology
In regression analysis, associations between continuous predictors and the outcome are often assumed to be linear. However, modeling the associations as non-linear can improve model fit. Many flexible modeling techniques, like (fractional) polynomials and spline-based approaches, are available. Such methods can be systematically compared in simulation studies, which require suitable performance measures to evaluate the accuracy of the estimated curves against the true data-generating functions. Although various measures have been proposed in the literature, no systematic overview exists so far. To fill this gap, we introduce a categorization of performance measures for evaluating estimated non-linear associations between an outcome and continuous predictors. This categorization includes many commonly used measures. The measures can not only be used in simulation studies, but also in application studies to compare different estimates to each other. We further illustrate and compare the behavior of different performance measures through some examples and a Shiny app.
title A categorization of performance measures for estimated non-linear associations between an outcome and continuous predictors
topic Methodology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.16981