Shared Statistical Concepts

Nested effects are generated in the same manner as crossed effects. Hence, the design columns that are generated by the following two statements are the same (but the ordering of the columns is different):

model Y=A B(A);

model Y=A A*B;

The nesting operator in high-performance statistical procedures is more of a notational convenience than an operation that is distinct from crossing. Nested effects are typically characterized by the property that the nested variables do not appear as main effects. The order of the variables within nesting parentheses is made to correspond to the order of these variables in the CLASS statement. The order of the columns is such that variables outside the parentheses index faster than those inside the parentheses, and the rightmost nested variables index faster than the leftmost variables (Table 4.11).