Article Version of Record

Differential Effects: Are the Effects Studied by Psychologists Really Linear and Homogeneous?

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Beller, Johannes
Baier, Dirk

Abstract / Description

Linear regression and its variants like analysis of variance are arguably the most widely used statistical techniques in psychology. By using linear regression it is merely assumed rather than empirically tested that the effects of the predictor variables are linear and homogeneous across the distribution of the dependent variable. This is problematic because it biases a scientist’s reasoning and hinders possible practical and theoretical insights. Thus an important question to ask is: Are the effects studied by psychologists really linear and homogeneous? Generalized additive models (GAMs) and quantile regression can be used to pursue this question. Benefits of complementing linear regression with these approaches include the ability to tailor actions on the specific individual in practice and the opportunity to gain more advanced scientific knowledge, for example about non-linear effects. The use of GAMs and quantile regression is furthermore empirically demonstrated in an analysis of risk-seeking and criminal peer networks as predictors of violent crime in a representative sample of German youth (N = 44.610). Practical and theoretical consequences of the results are discussed. Psychological science could immensely benefit from studying non-linear and heterogeneous effects.

Keyword(s)

differential effects non-linear heterogeneous linear regression quantile regression generalized additive models violent crime

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2013-05-31

Journal title

Europe's Journal of Psychology

Volume

9

Issue

2

Page numbers

378–384

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Beller, J., & Baier, D. (2013). Differential Effects: Are the Effects Studied by Psychologists Really Linear and Homogeneous? Europe's Journal of Psychology, 9(2), 378–384. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v9i2.528
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Beller, Johannes
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Baier, Dirk
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-21T10:01:00Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-21T10:01:00Z
  • Date of first publication
    2013-05-31
  • Abstract / Description
    Linear regression and its variants like analysis of variance are arguably the most widely used statistical techniques in psychology. By using linear regression it is merely assumed rather than empirically tested that the effects of the predictor variables are linear and homogeneous across the distribution of the dependent variable. This is problematic because it biases a scientist’s reasoning and hinders possible practical and theoretical insights. Thus an important question to ask is: Are the effects studied by psychologists really linear and homogeneous? Generalized additive models (GAMs) and quantile regression can be used to pursue this question. Benefits of complementing linear regression with these approaches include the ability to tailor actions on the specific individual in practice and the opportunity to gain more advanced scientific knowledge, for example about non-linear effects. The use of GAMs and quantile regression is furthermore empirically demonstrated in an analysis of risk-seeking and criminal peer networks as predictors of violent crime in a representative sample of German youth (N = 44.610). Practical and theoretical consequences of the results are discussed. Psychological science could immensely benefit from studying non-linear and heterogeneous effects.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Beller, J., & Baier, D. (2013). Differential Effects: Are the Effects Studied by Psychologists Really Linear and Homogeneous? Europe's Journal of Psychology, 9(2), 378–384. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v9i2.528
  • ISSN
    1841-0413
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1185
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1377
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v9i2.528
  • Keyword(s)
    differential effects
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    non-linear
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    heterogeneous
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    linear regression
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    quantile regression
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    generalized additive models
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    violent crime
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Differential Effects: Are the Effects Studied by Psychologists Really Linear and Homogeneous?
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    2
  • Journal title
    Europe's Journal of Psychology
  • Page numbers
    378–384
  • Volume
    9
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record