Abstract

Abstract. Estimation of generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) with non-nested random effects struc-tures requires approximation of high-dimensional integrals. Many existing methods are tailored to the low-dimensional integrals produced by nested designs. We explore the modifications that are required in order to adapt an EM algorithm with first-order and fully exponential Laplace approximations to a non-nested, multiple response model. The equations in the estimation routine are expressed as functions of the first four derivatives of the conditional likelihood of an arbitrary GLMM, providing a template for future appli-cations. We apply the method to a joint Poisson-binary model for ranking sporting teams, and discuss the estimation of a correlated random effects model designed to evaluate the sensitivity of value-added models for teacher evaluation to assumptions about the missing data process. Source code in R is provided in the online supplementary material. NOTICE This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Computational Statistics & Data Analysis. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, [VOL73, May 2014] DOI:10.1016/j.csda.2013.11.019 1.