When X′X is singular, a generalized inverse is used to obtain estimates. This approach permits some, but not all, of the parameters involved in a linear dependency to be estimated. Parameters are estimated based on the order of entry of their associated terms into the model, so that the last terms entered are the ones whose parameters are not estimated. Estimates are given in the Parameter Estimates report, and parameters that cannot be estimated are given estimates of 0.
However, estimates of parameters for terms involved in linear dependencies are not unique. Because the associated terms are aliased, there are infinitely many vectors of estimates that satisfy the least squares criterion. In these cases, “Biased” appears to the left of these estimates in the Parameter Estimates report. “Zeroed” appears to the left of the estimates of 0 in the Parameter Estimates report for terms involved in a linear dependency whose parameters cannot be estimated. For an example, see Figure 3.65.
If there are degrees of freedom available for an estimate of error, t tests for parameters estimated using biased estimates are conducted. These tests should be interpreted with caution, though, given that the estimates are not unique.