Autocorrelation
Autocorrelation
Consequences
1 The residual variance is likely to underestimate the true variance
2.
2 As a result, we are likely to overestimate R2.
3 Var (i) underestimates.
4 Consequently, t and F tests are no longer valid; these mislead
about the statistical significance of estimated regression
coefficients.
1990
90
79.7
1991
89.7
79.8
1992
89.8
81.4
1993
91.1
81.2
1994
91.2
84
1995
91.5
86.4
1996
92.8
88.1
1997
95.9
90.7
1998
96.3
91.3
1999
97.3
92.4
2000
95.8
93.3
2001
96.4
94.5
2002
97.4
95.9
2003
100
100
2004
99.9
100.1
2005
99.7
101.4
2006
99.1
102.2
2007
99.6
105.2
2008
101.1
107.5
2009
105.1
110.5
f(X)
0 + 1X + e
Model
R
.974a
Model Summaryb
R Square
Adjusted R
Std. Error of the Durbin-Watson
Square
Estimate
.949
.947
1.02209
1.195
a. Predictors: (Constant), X
b. Dependent Variable: Y
Model
Regression
1
Sum of Squares
353.101
Residual
Total
ANOVAa
df
1
Mean Square
353.101
18.804
18
1.045
371.905
19
F
338.000
Sig.
.000b
Sig.
a. Dependent Variable: Y
b. Predictors: (Constant), X
Coefficientsa
Unstandardized Coefficients
Model
B
1
(Constant)
X
a. Dependent Variable: Y
Std. Error
53.612
2.316
.454
.025
Standardized
Coefficients
Beta
.974
23.147
.000
18.385
.000
Detecting Autocorrelation
1. The Runs test
The runs or Geary test is a non-parametric test used to detect autocorrelation problem. We
have already saved regression residuals. We now use the following SPSS command to run the
runs test.
ANALYZENONPARAMETRIC TESTStake saved residuals to test-variable list
boxclick MEANOK
Unstandardized
Residual
Test Valuea
0E-7
10
10
Total Cases
20
Number of Runs
Z
Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed)
9
-.689
.491
a. Mean
2. Using DW statistic
The Durban-Watson d or DW statistic ranges between 0 and 4; where:
a. There is no-autocorrelation around a d = 2 (between du and 4-du)
b. Then there are two indecision zones on both sides of No-autocorrelation zone.
c. On both extreme ends, positive autocorrelation and negative autocorrelation zones
exist.
[
+
[ Indecision ]
No
]
[ Indecisive ]
Autocorrelation
Autocorrelation
[
0 ____ _
=3.048 _____ 4
Zone
Autocorrelation [
Zone
dl=0.952_____du=1.147____2_____4-du=2.853_____4-dl
How to test? The estimated model estimates DW = 1.195 which needs to compare with the
tabulated values provided in the Durban-Watson d statistic tables. We have n = 20 and K = 1
(k excluding intercept). At n = 20 and K= 1, table provides dl = 0.952 and du = 1.147. As
calculated DW = 1.195 falls above du that is no autocorrelation zone, that suggests that there
is no problem of autocorrelation exists in this data.
Remedies of Autocorrelation
There are two major remedies, namely:
The First-Differencing method
a. When the coefficient of autocorrelation (rho = ) is not known, then remedy is
first-differencing, that is:
(Yt Yt-1) = 1 (Xt Xt-1) + e