A recent recommendation by Holt that coefficients resulting from estimating
log-linear and similar models should not be interpreted is argued to be based on
lack of clarity about the substantive and theoretical importance of the choice
between dummy and effect coding for categorical variables. As a consequence,
his recommendation applies only when the main concern is for a balance between
parsimony and goodness of fit to the data and is inappropriate when interest lies
in correct specification of a model representing the substantive process generating
the data.
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