Regression analysis seasonal 8.0
Summary
This operator calculates a regression model for a time series. The regression model tries to explain observations with the help of trends, seasonal variations and other influencing factors, and creates a forecast for future dates.
A time series is a sequence of data points, measured typically at successive times spaced at uniform time intervals [1], e.g., temperature measured at every hour, or weekly sales figures.
The seasonal regression model allows also to analyze whether the observed data depend on other influencing factors (e.g., training, marketing campaigns, number of employees).
A detailed description of regression analysis methods can be found at [2].
Requirements for data to be analyzed
- Input data must be scaled, i.e., the time stamps in columns 'Date + time (from)' and 'Date + time (to)' represent uniform time intervals of the same duration. (see Scaling 8.0)
- Input data must be sorted by time stamps in the columns 'Date + time (from)' and 'Date + time (to)'.
- The columns 'Date + time (from)' and 'Date + time (to)' must not contain missing entries.
- The underlying data must comprise at least one complete season.
- If one or several observations are missing, the corresponding time stamps will be inserted into the data. The inserted entries are treated as missing observations.
Configuration
Input settings of existing table
Settings
Remarks
- Additional information, such as training and validation errors, and warnings, are reported in the description field of the operation within the TIS-GUI.
- If the column of an influencing factor contains the same constant value for each observation no regression analysis can be carried out. Thus, constant factors are excluded automatically.
Want to learn more?
This operator calculates a regression model for a time series. The regression model tries to explain observations with the help of trends, seasonal variations and other influencing factors, and creates a forecast for future dates.
Examples
Example: Regression model with trend and season
Situation |
We consider the number of incoming phone calls at a call center over a time period. We are given the number of incoming calls for each week during the last four years.
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Settings |
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Result |
The result table shows the forecast (G), and the lower and upper limits of the confidence intervals (E and F).
By adding a chart operation Chart: Histogram Time Pattern the visualization shows that the historical forecasts (orange line) estimated with the obtained regression model show a similar trend and seasonal behaviour as the historic observations (blue line). The red line shows the estimated number of phone calls for the next 52 weeks.
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Project-File |
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Example: Regression model with trend, season and influencing factors
Situation |
On the basis of that modified input we can now build an extended regression model. We specify advertising campaigns as an addtional influencing factor and the distinction column in the settings of the regression operation. |
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Settings |
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Result |
The resulting data node shows the forecast (G), and the lower and upper CI limits (E, F).
In the histogram visualizing the results (added with the operation Chart: Histogram Time Pattern) we see that campaigns could indeed explain an increased number of incoming calls in the past (compare orange and blue line). Also the forecast for the next 52 weeks (red line) contains high values whenever an advertising campaign will be run.
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Troubleshooting
Problem |
Frequent Cause |
Solutions |
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Error message: "Object reference not set to an instance of an object." |
in TIS 5.8.2, this error message occurs when the box "Output the validation result in data nodes" is checked. This is a bug, see ticket FLEX-505 - Regressionsanalyse 6.0 - Fehler Validierung AUCH in Regression Open
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Forecast for excluded days, e.g., holiday. |
The operator does not consider if a day in the future period is a day to be excluded or not. In our TIS Forecast solution not additional influcencing factors for days to be exlcuded are provided. If a regression model is based on at least of these influencing factor, the forecasted value for that day will be null. If a regression model does not use any additional influencing factors, e.g., they are all elminated due a high p-value, then will be a forecasted value for an excluded day. |
In the TIS forecasting solution those forecasted rows representing excluded days will be eliminated after the regression forecast (merge data, rows without a common key in data node 2). |
Month October is included in quarter 3 instead of quarter 4 |
Affects results only when option "Include quarters" is checked in TIS versions up to 6.8. This bug was fixed in TIS 6.9 |
Fixed in TIS 6.9 |