Robust Locally Weighted Regression and Smoothing Scatterplots
Abstract
The visual information on a scatterplot can be greatly enhanced, with little additional cost, by computing and plotting smoothed points. Robust locally weighted regression is a method for smoothing a scatterplot, (x i , y i ), i = 1, …, n, in which the fitted value at z k is the value of a polynomial fit to the data using weighted least squares, where the weight for (x i , y i ) is large if x i is close to x k and small if it is not. A robust fitting procedure is used that guards against deviant points distorting the smoothed points. Visual, computational, and statistical issues of robust locally weighted regression are discussed. Several examples, including data on lead intoxication, are used to illustrate the methodology.
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Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (lowess) is an outlier-resistant method that estimates a polynomial regression curve using local fitting.
“we smoothed the time series using locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (lowess), an outlier-resistant method that estimates a polynomial regression curve using local fitting [27].”
From Shift in Tuna Catches Due to Ocean Warming (2017) · cites this paper as [27]
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References 19 · Cited by 11,594
- Authors
- Cleveland, W. S.
- Affiliations
- AT&T (United States) (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cleveland, William S.
- Venue
- Journal of the American Statistical Association
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1979-12
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 368
- Pages
- 829-836
- ISSN
- 0162-1459 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-274X
- OpenAlex
- W2024081693
- Cited by
- 11,594
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 509 · 2025: 517 · 2024: 526 · 2023: 503 · 2022: 458 · 2021: 567 · 2020: 510 · 2019: 456 · 2018: 434 · 2017: 413 · 2016: 427 · 2015: 420 · 2014: 416 · 2013: 396 · 2012: 396
- FWCI
- 13.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the American Statistical Association (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Advanced Statistical Methods and Models
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Applied Mathematics › Statistical and numerical algorithms
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods and Applications
- Keywords
- weighted least squares, polynomial fitting, outliers, scatter plot visualization, lead poisoning
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