Estimation of parameters for a non-linear model

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Hi everyone,
I have a model that relates the average reaction time and error rate from an experimental session, with two free parameters, a and b:
ER=1/(1+a*(lnRT)^b )
I'm a bit confused by the multitude of ways to do the estimation of a and b. What's the simplest/reliable way to do it?
Many thanks!
  2 Comments
Matt J
Matt J on 22 Oct 2013
Which way do you consider complicated?
AwedBy Matlab
AwedBy Matlab on 22 Oct 2013
for instance after reading the help of fminsearch..

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Accepted Answer

Jonathan LeSage
Jonathan LeSage on 22 Oct 2013
If you're using MATLAB 2011b or newer, you likely have access to the Curve Fitting app. If you have this tool installed, you can open it by typing cftool. This tool allows you to import your data and then define a custom equation to fit. Once you've imported your data, you can select "Custon Equation" from the fit type menu and define you're own equation to fit. The cftool is probably the most straightforward method for fitting nonlinear curves to experimental data. Here is a link to an introduction to the product and an example.
Another option is to use the lsqcurvefit function to perform a nonlinear least squares fit of your custom defined equation using your data. Here is an example of this function being used:
Hopefully this helps to get you started!

More Answers (1)

AwedBy Matlab
AwedBy Matlab on 23 Oct 2013
Thanks very much Jonathan.

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