A simple linearization procedure for local fit of the Weibull survival distribution: a note on an article by Choe.

The author comments on an article by Choe concerning the use of the Weibull survival function to fit curves to infant and childhood mortality data. "As an alternative to the computer program [employed by Choe], this note gives a simple linearization procedure that is easily executed by hand calculator. This procedure allows one to check the fit of the Weibull curve locally...for a range of ages (e.g. those from which one wishes to extrapolate). It also provides a simple way to find the Weibull curve parameters of optimum local fit." The procedure is illustrated using data for the period 1970-1971 for males and females in Taiwan.