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lme for data that is not normally distributed

A point to note is that it is the distribution of the relevant sampling
distribution, not the normality of the residuals as given by the
function resid(), that matters for reliance on the standard errors
and t-statistics of parameters.  In Moses? example, the ID effects
are what will matter for this purpose.  

(In highly unbalanced designs, the estimated effects can have very 
non-normal distributions, even under strict model assumptions, and 
simulation may be the only way to get good insight on what is to be 
expected under those circumstances.)

The plot of residuals against fitted values is useful in checking
linearity (for heteroscedasticity this is more fraught because again
it is homogeneity for the relevant sampling distribution that matters),
and for checking leverage effects (a few IDs with an over-riding 
potential influence on the fitted response).

John Maindonald             email: john.maindonald at anu.edu.au