  We propose a general framework for non-normal multivariate data analysis
called multivariate covariance generalized linear models (McGLMs), designed to
handle multivariate response variables, along with a wide range of temporal and
spatial correlation structures defined in terms of a covariance link function
combined with a matrix linear predictor involving known matrices. The method is
motivated by three data examples that are not easily handled by existing
methods. The first example concerns multivariate count data, the second
involves response variables of mixed types, combined with repeated measures and
longitudinal structures, and the third involves a spatio-temporal analysis of
rainfall data. The models take non-normality into account in the conventional
way by means of a variance function, and the mean structure is modelled by
means of a link function and a linear predictor. The models are fitted using an
efficient Newton scoring algorithm based on quasi-likelihood and Pearson
estimating functions, using only second-moment assumptions. This provides a
unified approach to a wide variety of different types of response variables and
covariance structures, including multivariate extensions of repeated measures,
time series, longitudinal, spatial and spatio-temporal structures.
