The MODEL statement is required and names the dependent variable and the fixed effects. The fixed-effects determine the matrix of the model (see the section Notation for the Generalized Linear Mixed Model for details). The specification of effects is the same as in the GLM or MIXED procedure. In contrast to PROC GLM, you do not specify random effects in the MODEL statement. However, in contrast to PROC GLM and PROC MIXED, continuous variables on the left and right side of the MODEL statement can be computed through PROC GLIMMIX programming statements.

An intercept is included in the fixed-effects model by default. It can be removed with the NOINT option.

The dependent variable can be specified by using either the response syntax or the events/trials syntax. The events/trials syntax is specific to models for binomial data. A binomial(,) variable is the sum of independent Bernoulli trials with event probability . Each Bernoulli trial results in either an event or a nonevent (with probability ). You use the events/trials syntax to indicate to the GLIMMIX procedure that the Bernoulli outcomes are grouped. The value of the second variable, trials, gives the number of Bernoulli trials. The value of the first variable, events, is the number of events out of . The values of both events and (trialsevents) must be nonnegative and the value of trials must be positive. Observations for which these conditions are not met are excluded from the analysis. If the events/trials syntax is used, the GLIMMIX procedure defaults to the binomial distribution. The response is then the events variable. The trials variable is accounted in model fitting as an additional weight. If you use the response syntax, the procedure defaults to the normal distribution.

There are two sets of options in the MODEL statement. The response-options determine how the GLIMMIX procedure models probabilities for binary and multinomial data. The model-options control other aspects of model formation and inference. Table 38.6 summarizes important response-options and model-options. These are subsequently discussed in detail in alphabetical order by option category.