SummaryThere are two popular smoothing parameter selection methods for spline smoothing. First, smoothing parameters can be estimated by minimizing criteria that approximate the average mean-squared error of the regression function estimator. Second, the maximum likelihood paradigm can be employed, under the assumption that the regression function is a realization of some stochastic process. The asymptotic properties of both smoothing parameter estimators for penalized splines are studied and compared. A simulation study and a real data example illustrate the theoretical findings.