Standard Asymptotic Theory

Author(s):  
Russell Cheng

This book relies on maximum likelihood (ML) estimation of parameters. Asymptotic theory assumes regularity conditions hold when the ML estimator is consistent. Typically an additional third derivative condition is assumed to ensure that the ML estimator is also asymptotically normally distributed. Standard asymptotic results that then hold are summarized in this chapter; for example, the asymptotic variance of the ML estimator is then given by the Fisher information formula, and the log-likelihood ratio, the Wald and the score statistics for testing the statistical significance of parameter estimates are all asymptotically equivalent. Also, the useful profile log-likelihood then behaves exactly as a standard log-likelihood only in a parameter space of just one dimension. Further, the model can be reparametrized to make it locally orthogonal in the neighbourhood of the true parameter value. The large exponential family of models is briefly reviewed where a unified set of regular conditions can be obtained.

2021 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Coloma ◽  
Patrick Huber ◽  
Thomas Schwetz

AbstractA considerable experimental effort is currently under way to test the persistent hints for oscillations due to an eV-scale sterile neutrino in the data of various reactor neutrino experiments. The assessment of the statistical significance of these hints is usually based on Wilks’ theorem, whereby the assumption is made that the log-likelihood is $$\chi ^2$$ χ 2 -distributed. However, it is well known that the preconditions for the validity of Wilks’ theorem are not fulfilled for neutrino oscillation experiments. In this work we derive a simple asymptotic form of the actual distribution of the log-likelihood based on reinterpreting the problem as fitting white Gaussian noise. From this formalism we show that, even in the absence of a sterile neutrino, the expectation value for the maximum likelihood estimate of the mixing angle remains non-zero with attendant large values of the log-likelihood. Our analytical results are then confirmed by numerical simulations of a toy reactor experiment. Finally, we apply this framework to the data of the Neutrino-4 experiment and show that the null hypothesis of no-oscillation is rejected at the 2.6 $$\sigma $$ σ level, compared to 3.2 $$\sigma $$ σ obtained under the assumption that Wilks’ theorem applies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Tang ◽  
Xia Luo ◽  
Yang Cheng ◽  
Fei Yang ◽  
Bin Ran

The stated choice (SC) experiment has been generally regarded as an effective method for behavior analysis. Among all the SC experimental design methods, the orthogonal design has been most widely used since it is easy to understand and construct. However, in recent years, a stream of research has put emphasis on the so-called efficient experimental designs rather than keeping the orthogonality of the experiment, as the former is capable of producing more efficient data in the sense that more reliable parameter estimates can be achieved with an equal or lower sample size. This paper provides two state-of-the-art methods called optimal orthogonal choice (OOC) andD-efficient design. More statistically efficient data is expected to be obtained by either maximizing attribute level differences, or minimizing theD-error, a statistic corresponding to the asymptotic variance-covariance (AVC) matrix of the discrete choice model, when using these two methods, respectively. Since comparison and validation in the field of these methods are rarely seen, an empirical study is presented.D-error is chosen as the measure of efficiency. The result shows that both OOC andD-efficient design are more efficient. At last, strength and weakness of orthogonal, OOC, andD-efficient design are summarized.


2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. Sheppard

Abstract The Precipitation Occurrence Sensor System (POSS) is a small Doppler radar originally designed by the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) to report the occurrence, type, and intensity of precipitation in automated observing stations. It is also used for real-time estimation of raindrop size distributions (DSDs). From the DSD, various rainfall parameters can be calculated and relationships established, such as between the radar reflectivity factor (Z) and the rainfall rate (R). Earlier work presented first-order estimates of the sampling errors for some POSS rainfall parameter estimates. This work combines a Monte Carlo simulation and “inverse problem” analysis to better estimate errors due to the specific sampling problems of this disdrometer type. The uncertainties are necessary to determine the statistical significance of differences between DSD estimates by the POSS and other collocated disdrometers, or between POSS measurements in different climatologies. Additionally, confidence limits can be assigned to regression coefficients for rainfall parameter relationships determined from POSS estimates. An example is given of the uncertainties in the coefficients of measured Z–R relationships.


1993 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-530
Author(s):  
Young-Ho Chang ◽  
Eric Iksoon Im

2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 985-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Lu ◽  
James M. Bailey

Background Many pharmacologic studies record data as binary yes-or-no variables, and analysis is performed using logistic regression. This study investigates the accuracy of estimation of the drug concentration associated with a 50% probability of drug effect (C50) and the term describing the steepness of the concentration-effect relation (gamma). Methods The authors developed a technique for simulating pharmacodynamic studies with binary yes-or-no responses. Simulations were conducted assuming either that each data point was derived from the same patient or that data were pooled from multiple patients in a population with log-normal distributions of C50 and gamma. Coefficients of variation were calculated. The authors also determined the percentage of simulations in which the 95% confidence intervals contained the true parameter value. Results The coefficient of variation of parameter estimates decreased with increasing n and gamma. The 95% confidence intervals for C50 estimation contained the true parameter value in more than 90% of the simulations. However, the 95% confidence intervals of gamma did not contain the true value in a substantial number of simulations of data from multiple patients. Conclusion The coefficient of variation of parameter estimates may be as large as 40-50% for small studies (n < or = 20). The 95% confidence intervals of C50 almost always contain the true value, underscoring the need for always reporting confidence intervals. However, when data from multiple patients is naively pooled, the estimates of gamma may be biased, and the 95% confidence intervals may not contain the true value.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsuzsa Bakk ◽  
Daniel L. Oberski ◽  
Jeroen K. Vermunt

Latent class analysis is used in the political science literature in both substantive applications and as a tool to estimate measurement error. Many studies in the social and political sciences relate estimated class assignments from a latent class model to external variables. Although common, such a “three-step” procedure effectively ignores classification error in the class assignments; Vermunt (2010, “Latent class modeling with covariates: Two improved three-step approaches,” Political Analysis 18:450–69) showed that this leads to inconsistent parameter estimates and proposed a correction. Although this correction for bias is now implemented in standard software, inconsistency is not the only consequence of classification error. We demonstrate that the correction method introduces an additional source of variance in the estimates, so that standard errors and confidence intervals are overly optimistic when not taking this into account. We derive the asymptotic variance of the third-step estimates of interest, as well as several candidate-corrected sample estimators of the standard errors. These corrected standard error estimators are evaluated using a Monte Carlo study, and we provide practical advice to researchers as to which should be used so that valid inferences can be obtained when relating estimated class membership to external variables.


1994 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Hopkins ◽  
H. F. VanLandingham

This paper presents a new nonlinear method of simultaneous parameter and state estimation called pseudo-linear identification (PLID), for stochastic linear time-invariant discrete-time systems. No assumptions are required about pole or zero locations; nor about relative degree, except that the system transfer function must be strictly proper. Under standard gaussian assumptions, for completely controllable and observable systems, it is proved that PLID is the minimum mean-square-error estimator of the states and model parameters, conditioned on the input and output measurements. It is also proved, given persistent excitation, that the parameter estimates converge a.e. to the true parameter values. All results have been extended to the multiple-input, multiple-output case, but the single-input, single-output case is presented here to simplify notation.


1983 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 562-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dag Tjøstheim

An asymptotic theory of estimation is developed for classes of spatial series F(x1, · ··, xn), where (x1, · ··, xn) varies over a regular cartesian lattice. Two classes of unilateral models are studied, namely half-space models and causal (quadrant-type) models. It is shown that a number of asymptotic results are common for these models. Of special interest for practical applications is the problem of determining how many parameters should be included to describe the degree of dependence in each direction. Here we are able to obtain weakly consistent generalizations of familiar time-series criteria under the assumption that the generating variables of the model are independently and identically distributed. For causal models we introduce the concepts of spatial innovation process and lattice martingale and use these to extend some of the asymptotic theory to the case where a certain type of dependence is permitted in the generating variables.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Lüdtke ◽  
Alexander Robitzsch ◽  
Esther Ulitzsch

The bivariate Stable Trait, AutoRegressive Trait, and State (STARTS) model provides a general approach for estimating reciprocal effects between constructs over time. However, previous research has shown that this model is difficult to estimate using the maximum likelihood (ML) method (e.g., nonconvergence). In this article, we introduce a Bayesian approach for estimating the bivariate STARTS model and implement it in the software Stan. We discuss issues of model parameterization and show how appropriate prior distributions for model parameters can be selected. Specifically, we propose the four-parameter beta distribution as a flexible prior distribution for the autoregressive and cross-lagged effects. Using a simulation study, we show that the proposed Bayesian approach provides more accurate estimates than ML estimation in challenging data constellations. An example is presented to illustrate how the Bayesian approach can be used to stabilize the parameter estimates of the bivariate STARTS model.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-22
Author(s):  
Gyan Prakash

Our main focus on combining two different approaches, Step-Stress Partially Accelerated Life Test and Type-I Progressive Hybrid censoring criteria in the present article. The fruitfulness of this combination has been investigated by bound lengths for unknown parameters of the Burr Type-XII distribution. Approximate confidence intervals, Bootstrap confidence intervals and One-Sample Bayes prediction bound lengths have been obtained under the above scenario. Particular cases of Type-I Progressive Hybrid censoring (Type-I and Progressive Type-II censoring) has also evaluated under SS-PALT. Optimal stress change time also measured by minimizing the asymptotic variance of ML Estimation. A simulation study based on Metropolis-Hastings algorithm have carried out along with a real data set example.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document