Questions tagged [units]
units of measurement. Use this tag also for dimensional analysis.
54
questions
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can statistical units measured per thousand inhabitants be bigger than 1000?
I found some data on the number of self-employed people per one thousand inhabitants in Europe here. However, in the year 2020, for instance, some statistical units have over one thousand self-...
-1
votes
1
answer
52
views
PCA statistical units
I have a school project where I'm required to use a factor analysis. I chose this dataset from FiveThirtyEight about police killings. I want to characterize the places where people have been killed so ...
0
votes
2
answers
173
views
Effect of units on shape of normal distribution
TL;DR: Is the shape of a bell curve / normal distribution idependent of the units chosen to represent a certain variable?
More detail:
I was playing around with some data from this paper in excel:
...
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can ratio data have negative values?
I get the concept of a "true zero" value, but I'm not sure why this implies that there cannot be any negative values—at least that's what most sources say that I found only, with only few ...
2
votes
1
answer
27
views
What issues arise when you perform stats on scores attributed to concepts/objects rather than people? (2-way independent ANOVA example)
• Pianos have 5 different types of black note, and 7 different types of white note, on them.
• A famous music psychology paper examined the effects of note colour (black vs white) and instrument (...
1
vote
1
answer
66
views
How do the units of the SIR model cancel out?
I was having trouble trying to understand the parameters of the simplest SIR model.
If beta is the effective contact rate and s is the percentage of people who are susceptible, then how do the units ...
0
votes
0
answers
907
views
Units of measurement and the t-statistic
Consider a case in which we want to examine the effect of house value on homeupkeep expenditure using linear regression model, where dependent variable y is the upkeepexpense and ...
2
votes
1
answer
65
views
How to interpret a scaled response variable as an unscaled response variable?
I'm new to R and I'm having trouble to interpret the estimates of my scaled response variable.
I used (scale) function to standardize all my variables (1 response ...
0
votes
1
answer
415
views
Standardizing versus percentile rank with survey data
I am currently working with survey data, collected across different locations, but with slightly different units of measurement.
For example, on questions such as "What is your level of education", ...
0
votes
1
answer
891
views
Changing units in linear regression
A linear model:
$y_{i}=\alpha +\beta x_{i}+u_{i}$
was estimated using least squares and the following estimate was calculated:
$\widehat{\beta }=\frac{\sum (x_{i}-\overline{x})y_{i}}{\sum (x_{i}-\...
3
votes
0
answers
894
views
Probability density function units of the log-normal distribution
In a discussion on this forum
lognormal distribution, standard-deviation and (physical) units
the cumulative distribution function (PDF) of the lognormal distribution was analysed. The conclusion was ...
1
vote
1
answer
357
views
What are the units of a medcouple?
Let's say I have a distribution of some weights in kg. I want to estimate the skewness of this distribution using a robust statistic, the medcouple [ G. Brys; M. Hubert; A. Struyf (2004). A robust ...
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Multiple regression of variables with different units
I'm new in statistical modelling and using R, so please excuse my mistake for this question.
I want to make multiple regression model with these variables:
Revenue (in million USD) as dependent ...
1
vote
0
answers
39
views
Linear unit-transformation (say, from liters to milliliters) of response variable in simple regression
The setting
Consider the simple regression model:
\begin{equation}
y_i=\hat{\beta}_0 + \hat{\beta}_1 x_i + \hat{\epsilon}_i
\end{equation}
Now, suppose I want to apply a linear transformation to ...
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Units in Principal Component Analysis
If I have a data set with 6 variables (A, B, C, D) all measured in different units (eg. m, kg, s, K) and I perform principal component analysis to transform this into two Principal Axes, how do I ...
1
vote
1
answer
54
views
Interpreting regression results for different units of measure
Could you kindly help me with interpreting the results from the Probit model for different units of measure of the covariates?
Consider the Probit Model
$$
Y=1\{X\beta+\epsilon \geq 0\}
$$
with $\...
2
votes
1
answer
404
views
Sampling Methods/Monte Carlo method and Log-normal distribution
I found a problem from some notes i found online, here is a screenshot:
I am trying to understand this question, it seems this function they define as the LIP() function is basically the quartile/...
2
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Can a ratio level variable have negative values?
According to Stevens (1946) ratio level variables require an absolute zero. The implication, I believe, is that 0 = an absence of the thing being measured.
As such, can ratio level scales have ...
2
votes
1
answer
274
views
What do "scales" refer to when comparing correlation matrix to covariance matrix?
In one post it was written that:
You tend to use the covariance matrix when the variable scales are
similar and the correlation matrix when variables are on different
scales.
What does scale ...
-1
votes
1
answer
129
views
Dimensional analysis for a qdf/quantile function correspondng to the pdf/CDF (income distribution example)
This question is a duplicate of a question I previously asked, here: Dimensional analysis for a qdf/quantile function corresponing to the pdf/CDF (size distribution of income example). I believe I ...
1
vote
2
answers
99
views
Can I use a dataset even if the observations of a variable are not in the same unit?
I am using a dataset where a variable is "height". However, when I read about the construction of the dataset, it seems that some observations in the dataset are labelled in centimetres and others in ...
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are the units of entropy of a normal distribution?
I have a random process that follows a normal distribution. It's parameters are mean = 35 units, std.dev. = 8 units. I've seen from the wiki entry for the normal distribution that there is a formula ...
2
votes
0
answers
219
views
Change of units in linear regression [duplicate]
Take the following sample linear regression equation:
$$
\hat{y} = 20 + 50X
$$
I understand how a change of units in X that consists of simple scalar multiplication would alter the regression ...
8
votes
1
answer
23k
views
The unit of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE)
What is the unit of root mean square error (RMSE)? For example if we get an RMSE of 47 from a regression model, what does it tell in terms of unit?
1
vote
0
answers
396
views
How to define general covariance with a dirac delta with correct units
I want to define the covariance of a variable, say $X$, which is the integral over $Y(t)$:
$$ {\rm Cov}[X,X'] = \int\int {\rm Cov} [aY(t), a'Y(t')] dt dt'.$$
Just as an example, let the variable $...
4
votes
1
answer
622
views
in calculating Kalman gain, what if state and measurement space have different units?
My understanding is that the Kalman gain for a regular multivariate filter is computed as
$$
K = \bar P H^T S^{-1}
\\
S = H \bar P H^T + R
$$
$K$ being the Kalman gain, $\bar P$ being the prior ...
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What are the units of a convolution?
The convolution of $f$ and $g$ is defined as
$
(f * g )(t) \, \stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}\ \int_{-\infty}^\infty f(\tau)\, g(t - \tau) \, d\tau
$.
Let's say that $f(t)$ and $g(t)$ have units of, say, ...
1
vote
0
answers
35
views
Convert LP3 parameters following a unit change
The USGS uses a Log Pearson Type 3 (LP3) distribution to model flood frequency based on cubic feet per second (cfs) annual maximum flow data (AMAX). The result for a gauging station is the three ...
2
votes
1
answer
52
views
Compare relationships independent of units
I am trying to compare multiple columns of data with different units graphically. If I z-score the whole dataset am I introducing any error? Can I safely compare from column to column?
Eg
...
2
votes
1
answer
291
views
Is there a way to reconstitute the unit of measurement in PCA?
I have a data set composed of changes in financial asset prices. Because they are on different levels, e.g., one asset is trading in the 100s, the other in the 5s, the change their prices have vastly ...
7
votes
2
answers
678
views
Inconsistency in unit on gradient descent equation
The update algorithm for gradient descent is
$$\theta_j = \theta_j - \alpha \frac{\partial}{\partial \theta_j}J(\theta)$$
$ \frac{\partial}{\partial \theta_j}J(\theta)$ have the unit of cost per ...
0
votes
0
answers
48
views
Units of measurement when going back from regression to theory
This is a fundamental question I have, and so far I have not found a convincing answer.
My theory is this:
$$ w_{ijt} = \theta_{jt} a_{ij}
$$
where $w_{ijt}$ is wage of worker $i$ in occupation $j$ ...
2
votes
1
answer
158
views
Are units of the parameter important when considering Fisher information?
This is a follow-up question to one I asked on Math.SE:
What are the measurement units of Fisher information? (Dimensional Analysis)
When doing calculations with Fisher information in practice, ...
5
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is the multiple of a lognormally distributed variable also lognormally distributed?
If $X$ is distributed normally $N(\mu,\sigma^2)$ then the variable $Y = \exp(X)$ is lognormally distributed.
If the variable $Y$ is multiplied by some constant $C$:
$$D = CY$$
Is the variable $D$ ...
6
votes
2
answers
243
views
Which is the dimension (or units) of the predicted random effects?
Consider a simple panel data (or multilevel model) with random effects. For context, consider a wage regression, where the dependent variable $ln(y_{it})$ is the natural log of wage, where the wage is ...
1
vote
3
answers
624
views
How to predict orders when unit of measure is different across and within months
I have to predict the order quantity for a 6 month time period. The products are available in different unit of measurement and i dont the relationship between the measures i.e i dont know the ...
2
votes
1
answer
69
views
Do I really need to put unit on the graphic?
I would like to add unit on this graphic:
As stated in many sources, I should place as much of the required information within the figure itself. Unit is a (very) important information so therefore I ...
1
vote
1
answer
98
views
Statistic calculation (Conversion from one unit to another)
I could get the mean using the formulae
but not the value of SD and IQR from using the formulae. What is the problem?
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Comparing Standard Deviations with Different Units
Given: the standard deviation is 15.5 cents per gallon in one set of quoted prices and a standard deviation of $5.5 per barrel in another set of quoted prices.
There are 33.5 gallons in 1 barrel.
...
7
votes
1
answer
6k
views
If I divide my data by its mean, does it still have a unit?
When dividing a timeseries by its mean value so that its mean becomes 1, does the resulting data still have a unit or is it unitless?
2
votes
1
answer
932
views
What are the tests to measure agreement between two methods of measurement when the unit of measurement is different between the two methods?
Bland-Altman plot measure the agreement between two different methods which measures the same variable. As far as I understand Bland-Altman can measure only if the two methods have the same unit of ...
2
votes
2
answers
693
views
Changing the units for an independent variable in a Poisson model
I'm trying to model a dose-response relationship between the incidence of cancer (dependent variable, counts) and the radiation dose (independent variable in gray). Can I change the unit of the ...
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
lognormal distribution, standard-deviation and (physical) units
I have a distribution of microparticles that follows a lognormal distribution. The cumulative distribution function thus is given by:
$$
F_X(x;\mu,\sigma) = \frac12 \operatorname{erfc}\!\left(-\frac{\...
1
vote
0
answers
540
views
Z-score calculation for a single variable with readings in multiple units
I ran into little trouble transforming a set of data I need for analysis. I have been trying to analyze results of a lab test as Z-scores. I have an output field with a reading and unit field. Data ...
6
votes
2
answers
417
views
Getting the units right for the Pareto distribution of wealth: x = people, dollars, dollars per person?
When people talk about the 80-20 rule in the context of wealth, it is usually expressed, verbally, by stating that the 20 percent of the people with the highest wealth get 80 percent of the wealth, ...
3
votes
2
answers
337
views
What is a dimensionless indicator?
What is a dimensionless indicator? I assume it refers to the fact that it is consistent in the way that it doesn't vary disproportionately at the variation of its factors.
1
vote
1
answer
49
views
Consideration of type/unit errors relevant in statistics and correlation studies?
In http://www.academia.edu/1067827/Defence_of_Empirical_Evidence, Paul Cockshott argues that "type error" must be considered. So, the type of the average cost of the unit of oil is dollars/barrel, ...
1
vote
1
answer
61
views
Re-expression units conversion
I was arguing with my Stats teacher today in class because we were stuck on the topic of re-expression. She decided to give me extra credit if I could prove to her, using the internet, something ...
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
The organization as a unit of analysis and sampling issue
I'm doing a quantitative study entitled "Technology Transfer and Competitive Advantages in Oil and Gas Companies".
In my study, the unit of analysis is the organization and there are only 9 oil and ...
3
votes
1
answer
160
views
What rules should guide scaling variables to maximise interpretation, particularly within a regression context?
Context:
In this previous question @adhesh asked about the benefits of coding a binary variable zero-one rather than one-two.
I realised when I wrote this answer that I had quite a lot to say about ...