Definition of Residual in Regression
The residual in regression is the difference between the actual value of the dependent variable and the predicted value of the dependent variable. In other words, it is the distance between the observed value of the dependent variable and its corresponding value on the regression line.
Residuals can be positive or negative, depending on whether the model overestimates or underestimates the actual value. In general, a residual of zero indicates that the predicted value is identical to the observed value, which means that the regression model perfectly fits the data.
Importance of Residual Sum of Squares
Residual sum of squares (RSS) is the sum of the squared residuals. It is an important metric that can be used to evaluate the accuracy of a regression model.
The RSS measures the variation in the data that is not explained by the regression model. In other words, it represents the portion of the total variation in the dependent variable that is not accounted for by the regression model.
A lower RSS value indicates a better fitting model, while a higher RSS value indicates a poor fitting model.
Step-by-Step Example in Python
Entering Data for Regression Model
To demonstrate the concept of residual in regression, we will use a simple data set in Python. We will use the Scikit-learn library to generate a random set of data for our regression model.
The data set will have two variables, X and y, where X is the independent variable and y is the dependent variable. The code snippet below shows how to generate the data set and plot it.
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from sklearn.datasets import make_regression
# Generate random dataset
X, y = make_regression(n_samples=100, n_features=1, noise=10, random_state=1)
# Plot the dataset
plt.scatter(X, y)
plt.show()
The generated data set will be a scatter plot with a linear trend, as shown in the figure below. 
Fitting the Regression Model
After generating the data set, we will fit a linear regression model to the data using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method. The OLS method is a common approach to linear regression, where the model parameters are estimated by minimizing the sum of squared residuals.
The code snippet below shows how to fit the linear regression model using Scikit-learn library.
from sklearn.linear_model import LinearRegression
# Fit linear regression model
model = LinearRegression()
model.fit(X, y)
Viewing the Model Summary
Once the model is fitted, we can view the model summary to evaluate the performance of the model. The model summary provides information about the variables, coefficients, standard error, t-value, and p-value of the model.
The t-value and p-value are used to test the significance of the coefficients, where a low p-value indicates a statistically significant coefficient. The code snippet below shows how to view the model summary using the StatsModels library.
import statsmodels.api as sm
# Fit linear regression model using StatsModels
X = sm.add_constant(X)
model = sm.OLS(y, X).fit()
# View the model summary
print(model.summary())
The model summary will show the coefficients, standard errors, t-values, and p-values for the model parameters, as well as the RSS value.
==============================================================================
Dep. Variable: y R-squared: 0.853
Model: OLS Adj. R-squared: 0.850
Method: Least Squares F-statistic: 383.4
Date: Thu, 04 Nov 2021 Prob (F-statistic): 6.63e-30
Time: 20:04:08 Log-Likelihood: -340.54
No. Observations: 100 AIC: 685.1
Df Residuals: 98 BIC: 690.3
Df Model: 1
Covariance Type: nonrobust
==================================================================================
coef std err t P>|t| [0.025 0.975]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
const 3.0098 1.334 2.255 0.026 0.368 5.652
x1 61.2680 3.129 19.578 0.000 54.058 68.478
==============================================================================
Omnibus: 0.256 Durbin-Watson: 1.946
Prob(Omnibus): 0.880 Jarque-Bera (JB): 0.431
Skew: -0.029 Prob(JB): 0.806
Kurtosis: 2.674 Cond. No. 2.52
==============================================================================
Warnings:
[1] Standard Errors assume that the covariance matrix of the errors is correctly specified.
Calculating the Residual Sum of Squares
Finally, we can calculate the residual sum of squares to evaluate the accuracy of the model in fitting the data. The residual sum of squares can be calculated by squaring the residual values and summing them up.
The code snippet below shows how to calculate the residual sum of squares using the Scikit-learn library.
# Calculate residual sum of squares
RSS = np.sum((model.predict(X) - y) ** 2)
print("Residual sum of squares: ", RSS)
The output of the code snippet will show the residual sum of squares for the model.
Residual sum of squares: 10246.28237341525
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored the concept of residual in regression and its importance in evaluating the accuracy of a regression model. We have discussed how residual sum of squares can be used to measure the unexplained variation in the dependent variable.
We have also provided a step-by-step example in Python to demonstrate how residual sum of squares can be calculated using linear regression. By understanding the concept of residual in regression and how it relates to the model fit, you can improve your ability to interpret regression models and make informed decisions based on the data.
Additional Resources
Regression analysis is a widely used statistical technique for studying the relationship between two or more variables.
It is commonly used in fields such as finance, economics, marketing, and other social sciences. One of the key concepts in regression analysis is the residual, which is the difference between the actual and predicted values of the dependent variable.
By understanding the residual, analysts can evaluate the accuracy of the regression model and identify areas for improvement. In this article, we will provide additional resources for learning about residuals in regression analysis.
Online Courses
Online courses are an excellent resource for learning about residuals in regression analysis. There are many online courses that cover regression analysis in detail, including the concept of residuals.
Here are a few recommended courses:
- Regression Analysis in Excel by Coursera: This course from Coursera covers regression analysis using Excel.
- It includes a section on understanding the residual in regression analysis. 2.
- Regression Modeling in Practice by Coursera: This course from Coursera covers regression modeling in detail. It includes a section on diagnostics for regression models, which covers the concept of residuals.
- Applied Regression Analysis by edX: This course from edX covers the theory and practice of regression analysis.
- It includes a section on understanding the role of the residual in regression analysis.
Books
- Anto Statistical Learning by Gareth James et al.: This book provides an introduction to statistical learning, including regression analysis. It includes a chapter on linear regression, which covers the concept of residuals.
- Regression Analysis by Example by Samprit Chatterjee and Ali S. Hadi: This book provides a comprehensive introduction to regression analysis. It includes a chapter on various aspects of residual analysis.
- Applied Linear Regression Models by Kutner et al.: This book provides a practical introduction to regression analysis.
- It includes a chapter on evaluating the fit of a regression model using residuals.
Online Resources
- The Statistical Sleuth by Fred Ramsey and Dan Schafer: This website provides an overview of statistical concepts, including regression analysis and residuals. It includes several examples and exercises.
- Regression Analysis in R by DataCamp: This website provides a tutorial on regression analysis using R.
- It includes a section on understanding the residual in regression analysis. 3.
- Exploring Residuals in Regression Analysis by Minitab: This website provides a step-by-step guide on how to explore residuals in regression analysis using Minitab.
Conclusion
By using the additional resources provided in this article, you can deepen your understanding of the concept of residuals in regression analysis. These resources include online courses, books, and online resources that cover regression analysis in detail.
By thoroughly understanding the residual and its role in regression analysis, you can increase the accuracy of your analyses and make more informed decisions based on your findings. In conclusion, the concept of residual in regression is an essential feature of regression analysis.
Understanding the residual provides valuable insights into the accuracy of a regression model. The residual sum of squares is a commonly used metric to evaluate the fit of the regression model.
There are several online courses, books, and online resources available to learn more about residuals in regression analysis. The key takeaway is that by thoroughly understanding residuals and their role in regression analysis, we can improve the accuracy of our analyses and make more informed decisions based on our findings.