Deviance goodness-of-fit test ($D\approx {\chi }_{n-p}^2$)

For a suitably regular generalized linear model, a residual deviance $D$ can be compared approximately with a chi-squared distribution on $n-p$ degrees of freedom to assess fit relative to the saturated model. Sparse or very small expected cell counts can invalidate this reference distribution. A large p-value means no detected lack of fit, not proof of correctness; dependence, wrong mean structure or overdispersion still require diagnostics.

A logistic regression fitted to ungrouped Bernoulli observations has residual deviance $D=-2\ell (\hat{\beta })$. Comparing it automatically with ${\chi }_{n-p}^2$ is generally invalid: the saturated dimension grows with $n$, with one observation per fitted probability. If the true model has only an intercept and success probability $1/2$, then $D/n\to 2\log 2$, whereas ${\chi }_{n-1}^2/n\to 1$. Fixed-dimensional nested-model likelihood-ratio tests can still use Wilks theorem under regularity. For absolute fit, use meaningful grouping, residual diagnostics, or a fitted-model parametric bootstrap.