Introduction to Mixed (Hierarchical) models for biologists using R (IMBR01)

https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-mixed-hierarchical-models-for-biologists-using-r-imbr01/

14 May 2018 - 18 May 2018

Delivered by Prof Subhash Lele.

This course  will be held at Orford Musique, 3165 Chemin du Parc, Orford, QC J1X 7A2, Canada and can be reached directly by Montreal airport shuttle

Course overview: 
Mixed models, also known as hierarchical models and multilevel models, is a useful class of models for many applied sciences, including biology, ecology and evolution. The goal of this course is to give a thorough introduction to the logic, theory and most importantly implementation of these models to solve practical problems in ecology. Participants are not expected to know mathematics beyond the basic algebra and calculus. Participants are expected to know some R programming and to be familiar with the linear and generalized linear regression. We will be using JAGS (Just Another Gibbs Sampler) for Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations for analyzing mixed models. The course will be conducted so that participants have substantial hands-on experience.

Monday 14th
Linear and Generalized linear models
To understand mixed models, the most important first step is to thoroughly understand the linear and generalized linear models. Also, when conducting the data analysis, it is useful to fit a simpler fixed effects model before trying to fit a more complex mixed effects model. Hence, we will start with a very detailed review of these models. We are assuming that the participants are familiar with these models and hence we will emphasize some important, but not commonly covered, topics. This will also give us an opportunity to unify the notation, review the basic R commands and fill out any gaps in knowledge and understanding of these topics.
1. We will show the use of non-parametric exploratory techniques such as classification and regression trees (CART) for learning about important covariates and possible non-linearities in the relationships.
2. We will emphasize graphical and simulation based methods (e.g. Gelman and Hill, 2006) to understand and explore the implications of the fitted model.
3. We will discuss graphical tools such as marginal and conditional plots that are useful for conveying the results of a multiple regression model to a lay person.
4. We will emphasize the use of graphical tools to conduct regression diagnostics and appropriateness of the model.
5. We will discuss the important concepts of confounding, effect modification and interaction. These are particularly important to conduct causal, not just correlational, inference using observational studies.

Tuesday 15th
Computational inference
Many of the topics that will be covered involve the use of matrix algebra and calculus. While these mathematical techniques are essential tools for a mathematical statistician who is trying to understand the theory behind the methods, they can be avoided in practice by using simulation based techniques. The built-in functions such as the ’lm’ and ’glm’ to fit the regression models use the method of maximum likelihood to estimate the parameters and conduct statistical inference. We will discuss the use of JAGS (Just Another Gibbs Sampler) and the R package ’dclone’ to fit the same models. We will use a different statistical philosophy, namely the Bayesian inference, to fit these models. We will show how the Bayesian approach can be tricked into giving frequentist answers using data cloning (Lele et al. 2007, Ecology Letters). We will also discuss the rudiments of frequentist and Bayesian inference although we will not go into the pros and cons of them at this time. That will be covered during sessions 3 and 4 of the fifth day (and, over beer afterwards).
1. What makes an inference statistical inference?
2. What do we mean by probability of an event?
3. How do we quantify uncertainty in an inferential statement in the frequentist framework?
4. How do we quantify uncertainty in an inferential statement in the Bayesian framework?
We will then discuss the simulation based methods to quantify uncertainty.
1. Parametric bootstrap to quantify frequentist uncertainty
2. Markov Chain Monte Carlo to quantify Bayesian uncertainty
3. Fitting LM and GLM using JAGS and Bayesian approach

Wednesday 16th
Linear Mixed Models
Historically, linear mixed models arose in the study of quantitative genetics and heritability issues. They were successfully applied in animal breeding and led to the ’white’ revolution with abundance of milk supply for the developing world. They were, also, used in horse racing and other such fun areas. The other situation where linear mixed effects models were developed were in the context of growth curves. We will follow this historical trajectory of mixed models, paying tribute to the great statisticians R. A. Fisher, C. R. Rao and Jerzy Neyman, and study linear mixed models first. The questions they tried to solve were: Deciding the genetic value of a sire and/or a dam, studying heritability of traits, studying co-evolution of traits etc. These can be answered provided we assume that the sires and dams in our experiment or sample are merely a sample from a super-population of sires and dams. In growth curve analysis, we need to take into account that each individual is unique in its own way but is also a part of a population. How do we discuss both individual level and population inferences? In modern times, linear mixed effects models have arisen in the context of small area estimation in survey sampling where one is interested in inferring about a census tract based on county or state level data. These models arise also in the context of combining remote sensed data from different resolutions and types. The main issues that we will be discussing are:
1. What is a random effect? What is a fixed effect? How do we decide if an effect is random or fixed?
2. How do we modify a linear regression model to accommodate random effects?
3. Why bother fitting a mixed effects models? What do we gain?
4. How to modify the JAGS linear models program to fit a linear mixed effects model using JAGS?
5. What is the difference between a Bayesian and a frequentist inference?
6. What is a prior? What is a non-informative prior?
7. How do we interpret the results of a linear mixed effects model fit? Graphical and simulation based methods
8. How do we do model selection with mixed effects models?
9. How do we do model diagnostics in mixed effects models?
10. Parameter identifiabilty issues in linear mixed models
As we discuss these applications, we will discuss some subtle computational issues involved in using MCMC. In my recollection (which may be biased as it has been about 25 years since the quote), Daryl Pregibon said: MCMC is the crack cocaine of modern statistics; it is addictive, seductive and destructive. Hence, it is important for a practitioner to understand these issues in order not to misuse the MCMC technique.
1. What is a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method? Why is it necessary for mixed models?
2. What are the subtleties in implementing MCMC?: Convergence of the algorithm, Mixing of the chains.
3. Pros and cons of using MCMC

Thursday 17th
Generalised Linear Mixed Models
We will again start the discussion of GLMM in its historical context. One of the initial uses of mixed models were in the context of over dispersion in count data. Zero inflated count data was another important example. The example that drove the current revolution in the use of GLMM was in the context of spatial epidemiology. Clayton and Caldor (1989, Biometrics) showed that one can use spatial correlation to improve the prediction in mapping disease rates. This was also an example of the application of Empirical Bayes methods that allow one to pool information from different spatial areas (or, studies, or, scales, and so on).
1. Zero inflated data In many practical situations, we observe that there are many locations where there are zero counts, far in excess of what would be expected under the Poisson regression model. This can be effectively modelled using a mixed model framework. The mixed models framework allows us to use much more complex and realistic models.
2. Over dispersion in GLM, Spatial GLM, Spatio-temporal GLM The Poisson regression model assumes that the mean and variance are equal. This is, often, not true in practice. Generally the variance in the data exceeds the mean. One can show that such over-dispersion can be modelled using a mixed effects model. These models also arise in the context of capturerecapture sampling where capture probabilities vary across space or time or individuals.
3. Longitudinal or panel data with discrete response variable Many times we have data on different individuals where within the individual there is temporal dependence but individuals are independent of each other. Cluster sampling is another situation where we have dependence within a cluster but independence between clusters. Such data needs to take into account the innate variation between individuals before one can discuss the effect of interesting covariates or risk factors. Such data are effectively modelled as GLMM.
4. Measurement error, missing data Missing data and measurement error are ubiquitous in ecological studies. Mixed models provide a convenient way to take into account these difficulties and infer about the underlying processes of interest. We will discuss these issues in the context of Population Viability Analysis, Spatial population dynamics and source-sink analysis, Occupancy and abundance surveys. These also arise while doing usual linear and generalized linear models if the covariates are measured with error.
5. Additional topics depending on the interest of the participants. These may include, for example, discussion of Species Distribution Models, Resource Selection Functions and Animal movement models.
6 Computational issues: Advanced topics

Friday 18th
Mixed Models in a Bayesian Framework
MCMC is not the only approach to analyse mixed models. We will briefly discuss Laplace approximation based techniques (INLA, in particular) along with approximate techniques such as Composite likelihood and Approximate Bayesian Computation. Because of the mathematical nature, this discussion will be somewhat limited, only giving the basics and hinting at the important issues.
7 Philosophical issues: Sophie’s choice
1. What are the philosophical problems with using the frequentist quantification of uncertainty?
2. What are the philosophical problems with using the Bayesian quantification of uncertainty?
3. Sophie’s choice?

Check out our sister sites,
www.PRstatistics.com (Ecology and Life Sciences)
www.PRinformatics.com (Bioinformatics and data science)
www.PSstatsistics.com (Behaviour and cognition) 


1.	April 9th – 13th 2018 
NETWORK ANAYLSIS FOR ECOLOGISTS USING R (NTWA02
Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Marco Scotti   
www.prstatistics.com/course/network-analysis-ecologists-ntwa02/

2.	April 16th – 20th 2018
INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL MODELLING FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS USING R (IPSY01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Dale Barr, Dr Luc Bussierre   
http://www.psstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-statistics-using-r-for-psychologists-ipsy01/

3.	April 23rd – 27th 2018
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES USING THE VEGAN PACKAGE (VGNR01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Peter Solymos, Dr. Guillaume Blanchet             
www.prstatistics.com/course/multivariate-analysis-of-ecological-communities-in-r-with-the-vegan-package-vgnr01/

4.	April 30th – 4th May 2018
QUANTITATIVE GEOGRAPHIC ECOLOGY: MODELING GENOMES, NICHES, AND COMMUNITIES (QGER01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Dan Warren, Dr. Matt Fitzpatrick
www.prstatistics.com/course/quantitative-geographic-ecology-using-r-modelling-genomes-niches-and-communities-qger01/

5.	May 7th – 11th 2018 ADVANCES IN MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF SPATIAL ECOLOGICAL DATA USING R (MVSP02)
CANADA (QUEBEC), Prof. Pierre Legendre, Dr. Guillaume Blanchet
www.prstatistics.com/course/advances-in-spatial-analysis-of-multivariate-ecological-data-theory-and-practice-mvsp03/
6.	May 14th - 18th 2018
INTRODUCTION TO MIXED (HIERARCHICAL) MODELS FOR BIOLOGISTS (IMBR01)
CANADA (QUEBEC), Prof Subhash Lele 
www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-mixed-hierarchical-models-for-biologists-using-r-imbr01/

7.	May 21st - 25th 2018
INTRODUCTION TO PYTHON FOR BIOLOGISTS (IPYB05)
SCENE, Scotland, Dr. Martin Jones
http://www.prinformatics.com/course/introduction-to-python-for-biologists-ipyb05/

8.	May 21st - 25th 2018
INTRODUCTION TO REMOTE SENISNG AND GIS FOR ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS (IRMS01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Prof. Duccio Rocchini, Dr. Luca Delucchi
www.prinformatics.com/course/introduction-to-remote-sensing-and-gis-for-ecological-applications-irms01/

9.	May 28th – 31st 2018
STABLE ISOTOPE MIXING MODELS USING SIAR, SIBER AND MIXSIAR (SIMM04)
CANADA (QUEBEC) Dr. Andrew Parnell, Dr. Andrew Jackson 
www.prstatistics.com/course/stable-isotope-mixing-models-using-r-simm04/

10.	May 28th – June 1st 2018
ADVANCED PYTHON FOR BIOLOGISTS (APYB02)
SCENE, Scotland, Dr. Martin Jones
www.prinformatics.com/course/advanced-python-biologists-apyb02/

11.	June 12th - 15th 2018
SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODELLING (DBMR01)
Myuna Bay sport and recreation, Australia, Prof. Jane Elith, Dr. Gurutzeta Guillera
www.prstatistics.com/course/species-distribution-models-using-r-sdmr01/

12.	June 18th – 22nd 2018
STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING FOR ECOLOGISTS AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGISTS USING R (SEMR02)
Myuna Bay sport and recreation, Australia, Dr. Jon Lefcheck
www.prstatistics.com/course/structural-equation-modelling-for-ecologists-and-evolutionary-biologists-semr02/

13.	June 25th – 29th 2018
SPECIES DISTRIBUTION/OCCUPANCY MODELLING USING R (OCCU01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Darryl McKenzie
www.prstatistics.com/course/species-distributionoccupancy-modelling-using-r-occu01/

14.	July 2nd - 5th 2018
SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS FOR BEHAVIOURAL SCIENTISTS USING R (SNAR01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Prof James Curley
http://www.psstatistics.com/course/social-network-analysis-for-behavioral-scientists-snar01/

15.	July 8th – 12th 2018
MODEL BASE MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF ABUNDANCE DATA USING R (MBMV02)
Glasgow, Scotland, Prof David Warton
www.prstatistics.com/course/model-base-multivariate-analysis-of-abundance-data-using-r-mbmv02/

16.	July 16th – 20th 2018
PRECISION MEDICINE BIOINFORMATICS: FROM RAW GENOME AND TRANSCRIPTOME DATA TO CLINICAL INTERPRETATION (PMBI01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Dr Malachi Griffith, Dr. Obi Griffith
www.prinformatics.com/course/precision-medicine-bioinformatics-from-raw-genome-and-transcriptome-data-to-clinical-interpretation-pmbi01/

17.	July 23rd – 27th 2018
EUKARYOTIC METABARCODING (EUKB01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Owen Wangensteen
http://www.prinformatics.com/course/eukaryotic-metabarcoding-eukb01/

18.	October 8th – 12th 2018
INTRODUCTION TO SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL DATA USING R (ISAE01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Prof. Subhash Lele
https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-spatial-analysis-of-ecological-data-using-r-isae01/

19.	October 15th – 19th 2018
APPLIED BAYESIAN MODELLING FOR ECOLOGISTS AND EPIDEMIOLOGISTS (ABME
Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Matt Denwood, Emma Howard
http://www.prstatistics.com/course/applied-bayesian-modelling-ecologists-epidemiologists-abme04/

20.	October 29th – November 2nd 2018
PHYLOGENETIC COMPARATIVE METHODS FOR STUDYING DIVERSIFICATION AND PHENOTYPIC EVOLUTION (PCME01)
Glasgow, Scotland, Prof. Subhash Lele
Dr. Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou
https://www.prstatistics.com/course/phylogenetic-comparative-methods-for-studying-diversification-and-phenotypic-evolution-pcme01/

21.	November 26th – 30th 2018
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY FROM ORGANISM TO ECOSYSTEM: THEORY AND COMPUTATION (FEER
Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Francesco de Bello, Dr. Lars Götzenberger, Dr. Carlos Carmona
http://www.prstatistics.com/course/functional-ecology-from-organism-to-ecosystem-theory-and-computation-feer01/

22.	February 2018 TBC
MOVEMENT ECOLOGY (MOVE02)
Margam Discovery Centre, Wales, Dr Luca Borger, Dr Ronny Wilson, Dr Jonathan Potts
www.prstatistics.com/course/movement-ecology-move01/