topic Re: when outcome variable is not normally distributed, what kind of regression analysis in SAS Programming

when outcome variable is not normally distributed, what kind of regression analysis

Bal23 — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 16:19:16 GMT

I previously used regression analysis and there is a significant difference. Then I realize my dependent variable is not normally distirbuted, it is very skewed.

So I use proc genmod. Anyother analysises, please give advice.

below is the error message

1523 proc genmod data = have;

1524 model abb= mbb /dist=negbin;

1525 run;

NOTE: Non-integer response values have been detected for the

Negative Binomial distribution.

WARNING: No output destinations active.

NOTE: Algorithm converged.

NOTE: The negative binomial dispersion parameter was estimated

by maximum likelihood.

NOTE: PROCEDURE GENMOD used (Total

Re: when outcome variable is not normally distributed, what kind of regression analysis

PGStats — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 16:52:54 GMT

"dist=negbin" requests maximum likelihood parameter estimation to explain things that can be counted. Counts are integers. What is abb?

Re: when outcome variable is not normally distributed, what kind of regression analysis

Bal23 — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 16:56:46 GMT

abb is my dependent variable, mbb is my independent variable

Re: when outcome variable is not normally distributed, what kind of regression analysis

PGStats — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:04:31 GMT

Advice: Take an Introductory course in Probability. Learn the difference between discrete and continuous distributions.

Re: when outcome variable is not normally distributed, what kind of regression analysis

ballardw — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:49:12 GMT

You didn't mention which type of regression you initially performed. Many types do not require the data to be normally distributed but that the errors are normally distributed.

Re: when outcome variable is not normally distributed, what kind of regression analysis

Bal23 — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 14:14:24 GMT

it is linear regression

Re: when outcome variable is not normally distributed, what kind of regression analysis

ClaudiaJimenezC — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:40:03 GMT

This comment is unnecessarily rude, PGStats.

Re: when outcome variable is not normally distributed, what kind of regression analysis

Tom — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:06:26 GMT

@Bal23 wrote:

abb is my dependent variable, mbb is my independent variable

The questions was meant to be what type of values does ABB contain, not its role in your model.

Are they positive integer values? If not then it is not appropriate to assume it should follow a negative binomial distribution.