Optimal Designs for Poisson Count Data with Gamma Block Effects

Abstract: The Poisson-Gamma model is a generalization of the Poisson model, which can be used for modelling count data. We show that the $D$-optimality criterion for the Poisson-Gamma model is equivalent to a combined weighted optimality criterion of $D$-optimality and $D_s$-optimality for the Poisson model. Moreover, we determine the $D$-optimal designs for the Poisson-Gamma model for multiple regression with an arbitrary number of covariates, obtaining the $D_s$-optimal designs for the Poisson and Poisson-Gamma model as a special case. For linear optimality criteria like $L$- and $c$-optimality it is shown that the optimal designs in the Poisson and Poisson-Gamma model coincide.