If the y values are "hypergeometrically" distributed then they are counts, right? Loess is designed for continuous, reasonably symmetric data, and so is inappropriate. You should probably consider GLM for a parametric fit; or perhaps GAM for a nonparametric fit. As the data appear to have the structure of a time series, you may wish to search CRAN for a non-Gaussian time series package. I am unfamiliar with such methodology, so I have no idea what, if anything, is available for this.
Better suggestion. Get help from a local statistician, at least to get you started. -- Bert Gunter Genentech Non-Clinical Statistics South San Francisco, CA "The business of the statistician is to catalyze the scientific learning process." - George E. P. Box > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thomas L Jones > Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 5:53 AM > To: R-project help > Subject: [R] loess smoothing question > > I am trying to smooth a dataset with evenly spaced values of x, > perhaps using loess smoothing or something similar. However, the y > values are hypergeometrically distributed; I think I want to use a > logarithmic link function. It falls under the general heading of > non-parametric regression. The problem is of interest in predicting > the demand at a voting place, in order to avoid long lines. > > Questions: Should I use loess smoothing? > Do I want a logarithmic link function? If so, > How do I tell loess to use a logarithmic link function? > > Tom, a newbie to the R project, and not really a statistician > > ______________________________________________ > R-help@stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list > https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > PLEASE do read the posting guide! > http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html > ______________________________________________ R-help@stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide! http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html