Description
Aster models are exponential family regression models for life
history analysis. They are like generalized linear models except that
elements of the response vector can have different families (e. g.,
some Bernoulli, some Poisson, some zero-truncated Poisson, some normal)
and can be dependent, the dependence indicated by a graphical structure.
Discrete time survival analysis, zero-inflated Poisson regression, and
generalized linear models that are exponential family (e. g., logistic
regression and Poisson regression with log link) are special cases.
Main use is for data in which there is survival over discrete time periods
and there is additional data about what happens conditional on survival
(e. g., number of offspring). Uses the exponential family canonical
parameterization (aster transform of usual parameterization).
There are also random effects versions of these models.