In addition to plotting residuals, many models are amenable to nonparametric or pseudo-nonparametric fits. For instance, in this example you could fit a model with a binary (1 or 0) categorical variable for each age, and then plot parameter estimates for these terms. This allows a free shape for the fit on age. This way you can get a shape for age after one fitting, rather than have to iterate over multiple fittings.
C, unfortunately, biologically and mathematically smart biostatisticians are hard to find. It is a bit like the proverbial Eshet Chayil: "An accomplished woman who can find her? Her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband's heart trusts in her, and he lacks nothing..."
If I instead of RFK jr were running the Health Department overseeing CDC and NIH, I would make sure that at least 5% of the grant money were going to biostatistics and nowhere else, and make a complementary demand on the university overheads. Judging from my experience at a premier research university getting good quality biostatistics expertise is not easy.
In addition to plotting residuals, many models are amenable to nonparametric or pseudo-nonparametric fits. For instance, in this example you could fit a model with a binary (1 or 0) categorical variable for each age, and then plot parameter estimates for these terms. This allows a free shape for the fit on age. This way you can get a shape for age after one fitting, rather than have to iterate over multiple fittings.
Trying this now.
C, unfortunately, biologically and mathematically smart biostatisticians are hard to find. It is a bit like the proverbial Eshet Chayil: "An accomplished woman who can find her? Her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband's heart trusts in her, and he lacks nothing..."
If I instead of RFK jr were running the Health Department overseeing CDC and NIH, I would make sure that at least 5% of the grant money were going to biostatistics and nowhere else, and make a complementary demand on the university overheads. Judging from my experience at a premier research university getting good quality biostatistics expertise is not easy.