The HPREG Procedure

PROC HPREG supports the ability to split classification variables when doing model selection. You use the SPLIT option in the CLASS statement to specify that the columns of the design matrix that correspond to effects that contain a split classification variable can enter or leave a model independently of the other design columns of that effect. The following statements illustrate the use of SPLIT option:

data splitExample; 
   length c2 $6;
   drop i; 
   do i=1 to 1000;
     c1 = 1 + mod(i,6);
     if      i < 250 then c2 = 'low';
     else if i < 500 then c2 = 'medium';
     else                 c2 = 'high';    
     x1 = ranuni(1);
     x2 = ranuni(1);
     y = x1+3*(c2 ='low')  + 10*(c1=3) +5*(c1=5) + rannor(1);
     output;
   end;
run; 

proc hpreg data=splitExample;
   class c1(split) c2(order=data);
   model y = c1 c2 x1 x2/orderselect;
   selection method=forward;
run;

The “Class Levels” table shown in Figure 8.8 is produced by default whenever you specify a CLASS statement.

The SPLIT option has been specified for the classification variable c1. This permits the parameters associated with the effect c1 to enter or leave the model individually. The “Parameter Estimates” table in Figure 8.9 shows that for this example the parameters that correspond to only levels 3 and 5 of c1 are in the selected model. Finally, note that the ORDERSELECT option in the MODEL statement specifies that the parameters be displayed in the order in which they first entered the model.