Generalized Nonlinear Models in R
By Heather Turner
Date and Time: 24th November 2025, 9AM-5PM
Location: National Film and Sound Archive
The class of generalized linear models covers several methods commonly used in data analysis, including multiple linear regression, logistic regression, and log-linear models. But a linear predictor does not always capture the relationship we wish to model. Rather, a nonlinear predictor may provide a better description of the observed data, often with fewer and more interpretable parameters. This workshop introduces the wider class of generalized nonlinear models (GNMs) and their implementation via the R package gnm. The day will begin with a brief refresher of linear and generalized linear models. The extension to a nonlinear predictor will be motivated by the case of structured interaction models, such as Goodman’s Row-Column association model for contingency tables. The remainder of the day will be devoted to further applications, such as the UNIDIFF models for social mobility data, the Lee-Carter model for mortality data, and bespoke GNMs.
Requirements
Participants should
- bring a laptop with R installed, along with the
gnm,logmultandvcdExtrapackages. - have basic R knowledge (e.g. you have used R to load data, create simple visualisations, perform basic analyses and write simple functions or more specifically, you are familiar with concepts in Cookbook for R by Winston Chang)
- know basic statistics (e.g. simple linear regression, hypothesis testing, basic summary statistics and plots)
Desirable
Familiarity with:
- generalized linear models and/or
- nonlinear least squares models
would be beneficial but not essential.
Registration
The registration for the workshop will open in June. The workshop is limited in space so please register early to secure your spot.