datadist {Design} | R Documentation

## Distribution Summaries for Predictor Variables

### Description

For a given set of variables or a data frame, determines summaries of variables for effect and plotting ranges, values to adjust to, and overall ranges for `plot.Design`, `summary.Design`, `survplot`, and `nomogram.Design`. If `datadist` is called before a model fit and the resulting object pointed to with `options(datadist="name")`, the data characteristics will be stored with the fit by `Design()`, so that later predictions and summaries of the fit will not need to access the original data used in the fit. Alternatively, you can specify the values for each variable in the model when using these 3 functions, or specify the values of some of them and let the functions look up the remainder (of say adjustmemt levels) from an object created by `datadist`. The best method is probably to run `datadist` once before any models are fitted, storing the distribution summaries for all potential variables. Adjustment values are `0` for binary variables, the most frequent category (or optionally the first category level) for categorical (`factor`) variables, the middle level for `ordered factor` variables, and medians for continuous variables. See descriptions of `q.display` and `q.effect` for how display and effect ranges are chosen for continuous variables.

### Usage

    datadist(..., data, q.display, q.effect=c(0.25, 0.75),
             adjto.cat=c('mode','first'), n.unique=10)

    ## S3 method for class 'datadist':
    print(x, ...)
    # options(datadist="dd")
    # used by summary, plot, survplot, sometimes predict
    # For dd substitute the name of the result of datadist

### Arguments

`...` | a list of variable names, separated by commas, a single data frame, or a fit with `Design` information. The first element in this list may also be an object created by an earlier call to `datadist`; then the later variables are added to this `datadist` object. For a fit object, the variables named in the fit are retrieved from the active data frame or from the location pointed to by `data=frame number` or `data="data frame name"`. For `print`, is ignored.
`data` | a data frame or a search position. If `data` is a search position, it is assumed that a data frame is attached in that position, and all its variables are used. If you specify both individual variables in `...` and `data`, the two sets of variables are combined. Unless the first argument is a fit object, `data` must be an integer.
`q.display` | set of two quantiles for computing the range of continuous variables to use in displaying regression relationships. Defaults are q and 1-q, where q=10/max(n,200), and n is the number of non-missing observations. Thus for n<200, the .05 and .95 quantiles are used. For n>=q 200, the 10^{th} smallest and 10^{th} largest values are used. If you specify `q.display`, those quantiles are used whether or not n<200.
`q.effect` | set of two quantiles for computing the range of continuous variables to use in estimating regression effects. Defaults are c(.25,.75), which yields inter-quartile-range odds ratios, etc.
`adjto.cat` | default is `"mode"`, indicating that the modal (most frequent) category for categorical (factor) variables is the adjust-to setting. Specify `"first"` to use the first level of factor variables as the adjustment values. In the case of many levels having the maximum frequency, the first such level is used for `"mode"`.
`n.unique` | variables having `n.unique` or fewer unique values are considered to be discrete variables in that their unique values are stored in the `values` list. This will affect how functions such as `nomogram.Design` determine whether variables are discrete or not.
`x` | result of `datadist`

### Details

For categorical variables, the 7 limits are set to character strings (factors) which correspond to `c(NA,adjto.level,NA,1,k,1,k)`, where `k` is the number of levels. For ordered variables with numeric levels, the limits are set to `c(L,M,H,L,H,L,H)`, where `L` is the lowest level, `M` is the middle level, and `H` is the highest level.

### Value

a list of class `"datadist"` with the following components

`limits` | a 7 times k vector, where k is the number of variables. The 7 rows correspond to the low value for estimating the effect of the variable, the value to adjust the variable to when examining other variables, the high value for effect, low value for displaying the variable, the high value for displaying it, and the overall lowest and highest values.
`values` | a named list, with one vector of unique values for each numeric variable having no more than `n.unique` unique values

### Author(s)

Frank Harrell
Department of Biostatistics
Vanderbilt University
f.harrell@vanderbilt.edu

### See Also

`Design`, `Design.trans`, `describe`, `plot.Design`, `summary.Design`

### Examples

    ## Not run:
    d <- datadist(data=1)         # use all variables in search pos. 1
    d <- datadist(x1, x2, x3)
    page(d)                       # if your options(pager) leaves up a pop-up
                                  # window, this is a useful guide in analyses
    d <- datadist(data=2)         # all variables in search pos. 2
    d <- datadist(data=my.data.frame)
    d <- datadist(my.data.frame)  # same as previous.  Run for all potential vars.
    d <- datadist(x2, x3, data=my.data.frame)   # combine variables
    d <- datadist(x2, x3, q.effect=c(.1,.9), q.display=c(0,1))
    # uses inter-decile range odds ratios,
    # total range of variables for regression function plots
    d <- datadist(d, z)           # add a new variable to an existing datadist
    options(datadist="d")         #often a good idea, to store info with fit
    f <- ols(y ~ x1*x2*x3)

    options(datadist=NULL)        #default at start of session
    f <- ols(y ~ x1*x2)
    d <- datadist(f)              #info not stored in `f'
    d$limits["Adjust to","x1"] <- .5   #reset adjustment level to .5
    options(datadist="d")

    f <- lrm(y ~ x1*x2, data=mydata)
    d <- datadist(f, data=mydata)
    options(datadist="d")

    f <- lrm(y ~ x1*x2)           #datadist not used - specify all values for
    summary(f, x1=c(200,500,800), x2=c(1,3,5))         # obtaining predictions
    plot(f, x1=200:800, x2=3)

    # Change reference value to get a relative odds plot for a logistic model
    d$limits$age[2] <- 30    # make 30 the reference value for age
    # Could also do: d$limits["Adjust to","age"] <- 30
    fit <- update(fit)   # make new reference value take effect
    plot(fit, age=NA, ref.zero=TRUE, fun=exp, ylab='Age=x:Age=30 Odds Ratio')
    ## End(Not run)

[Package Contents]