The deviance statistic is a measure used to assess the goodness of fit of a statistical model, particularly in the context of generalized linear models (GLMs). It quantifies how well the model predicts the observed data compared to a saturated model that perfectly fits the data. A lower deviance indicates a better fit, connecting it to link functions and linear predictors by showing how adjustments in these can influence model performance, while also being crucial for understanding overdispersion in data.
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