Iteratively reweighted generalized least squares for estimation and testing with correlated data: An inference function framework

The focus of this article is on fitting regression models and testing of general linear hypotheses for correlated data using quasi-likelihood based techniques. The class of generalized method of moments or GMMs provides an elegant approach for estimating a vector of regression parameters from a set of score functions. Extending the principle of the GMMs, in the generalized estimating equation framework, leads to a quadratic inference function or QIF approach for the analysis of correlated data. We derive an iteratively reweighted generalized least squares or IRGLS algorithm for finding the QIF estimator and establish its convergence properties. A software library implementing the techniques is demonstrated through several datasets.