Empirical likelihood for balanced ranked-set sampled data

Ranked-set sampling (RSS) often provides more efficient inference than simple random sampling (SRS). In this article, we propose a systematic nonparametric technique, RSS-EL, for hypothesis testing and interval estimation with balanced RSS data using empirical likelihood (EL). We detail the approach for interval estimation and hypothesis testing in one-sample and two-sample problems and general estimating equations. In all three cases, RSS is shown to provide more efficient inference than SRS of the same size. Moreover, the RSS-EL method does not require any easily violated assumptions needed by existing rank-based nonparametric methods for RSS data, such as perfect ranking, identical ranking scheme in two groups, and location shift between two population distributions. The merit of the RSS-EL method is also demonstrated through simulation studies. This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10871037)     

Tests of perfect judgment ranking using pseudo-samples

Ranked set sampling (RSS) is a sampling approach that can produce improved statistical inference when the ranking process is perfect. While some inferential RSS methods are robust to imperfect rankings, other methods may fail entirely or provide less efficiency. We develop a nonparametric procedure to assess whether the rankings of a given RSS are perfect. We generate pseudo-samples with a known ranking and use them to compare with the ranking of the given RSS sample. This is a general approach that can accommodate any type of raking, including perfect ranking. To generate pseudo-samples, we consider the given sample as the population and generate a perfect RSS. The test statistics can easily be implemented for balanced and unbalanced RSS. The proposed tests are compared using Monte Carlo simulation under different distributions and applied to a real data set.     

On Bayesian group sequential sampling procedures

A general group sequential statistical decision model is investigated. Using a Bayesian approach and Bayesian dynamic programming, we examine structural properties of the cost functions and of optimal sampling procedures. In particular, we consider variable-sample-size-sequential probability ratio tests and show that the so-called onion-skins conjecture is false.     

基于有序抽样样本的参数的极大似然估计的性质

有序抽样是一种新的抽样方法 ,与简单随机抽样方法相比它具有很多很好的性质 .本文讨论了在有序抽样样本下的参数的极大似然估计的性质 .     

On the Ranked-Set Sampling M-Estimates for Symmetric Location Families

The ranked-set sampling (RSS) is applicable in practical problems where the variable of interest for an observed item is costly or time-consuming but the ranking of a set of items according to the variable can be easily done without actual measurement. In this article, the M-estimates of location parameters using RSS data are studied. We deal mainly with symmetric location families. The asymptotic properties of M-estimates based on ranked-set samples are established. The properties of unbalanced ranked-set sample M-estimates are employed to develop the methodology for determining optimal ranked-set sampling schemes. The asymptotic relative efficiencies of ranked-set sample M-estimates are investigated. Some simulation studies are reported.     

Estimation of the Common Mean of a Bivariate Normal Population

In this paper we discuss the problem of estimating the common mean of a bivariate normal population based on paired data as well as data on one of the marginals. Two double sampling schemes with the second stage sampling being either a simple random sampling (SRS) or a ranked set sampling (RSS) are considered. Two common mean estimators are proposed. It is found that under normality, the proposed RSS common mean estimator is always superior to the proposed SRS common mean estimator and other existing estimators such as the RSS regression estimator proposed by Yu and Lam (1997, Biometrics, 53, 1070–1080). The problem of estimating the mean Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) of regular gasoline based on field and laboratory data is considered.     

优良抽样设计下Logistic分布中参数的极大似然估计

当研究目标的实际测量具有不可修复的破坏性或耗资巨大时,有效的抽样设计将是一项重要的研究课题.在统计推断方面,排序集抽样(RSS)被视为一种比简单随机抽样(SRS)更为有效的收集数据的方式.动态极值RSS (MERSS)是一种修正的RSS.文章在SRS和MERSS下研究了Logistic分布中参数的极大似然估计(MLEs).在这两种抽样下证明了该分布中位置参数和刻度参数的MLEs的存在性和唯一性,并计算了所含参数的Fisher信息量和Fisher信息矩阵.比较了这两种抽样下对应估计的渐近效率.数值结果表明MERSS下的MLEs一致优于SRS下的MLEs.     

序集抽样中$M$估计分布的随机加权逼近

序集抽样是一种适用于准确测量花费太高而排序费用可以忽略不记时的一种抽样方法.讨论了序集抽样下的对于一般分布族M估计的相合性和渐近正态性并且通过随机加权的方法来估计M估计的分布.     

Proportion estimation in ranked set sampling in the presence of tie information

Ranked set sampling (RSS) is a statistical technique that uses auxiliary ranking information of unmeasured sample units in an attempt to select a more representative sample that provides better estimation of population parameters than simple random sampling. However, the use of RSS can be hampered by the fact that a complete ranking of units in each set must be specified when implementing RSS. Recently, to allow ties declared as needed, Frey (Environ Ecol Stat 19(3):309–326, 2012) proposed a modification of RSS, which is to simply break ties at random so that a standard ranked set sample is obtained, and meanwhile record the tie structure for use in estimation. Under this RSS variation, several mean estimators were developed and their performance was compared via simulation, with focus on continuous outcome variables. We extend the work of Frey (2012) to binary outcomes and investigate three nonparametric and three likelihood-based proportion estimators (with/without utilizing tie information), among which four are directly extended from existing estimators and the other two are novel. Under different tie-generating mechanisms, we compare the performance of these estimators and draw conclusions based on both simulation and a data example about breast cancer prevalence. Suggestions are made about the choice of the proportion estimator in general.     

Optimal testing strategies in overlapped design process

Testing is an important activity in product development. Past studies, which are developed to determine the optimal scheduling of tests, often focused on single-stage testing of sequential design process. This paper presents an analytical model for the scheduling of tests in overlapped design process, where a downstream stage starts before the completion of upstream testing. We derive optimal stopping rules for upstream and downstream stages’ testing, together with the optimal time elapsed between beginning the upstream tests and beginning the downstream development. We find that the cost function is first convex then concave increasing with respect to upstream testing duration. A one-dimensional search algorithm is then proposed for finding the unique optimum that minimizes the overall cost. Moreover, the impact of different model parameters, such as the problem-solving capacity and opportunity cost, on the optimal solution is discussed. Finally, we compare the testing strategies in overlapped process with those in sequential process, and get some additional results. The methodology is illustrated with a case study at a handset design company.     

Multiple change-points detection by empirical Bayesian information criteria and Gibbs sampling induced stochastic search

Uncovering hidden change-points in an observed signal sequence is challenging both mathematically and computationally. We tackle this by developing an innovative methodology based on Markov chain Monte Carlo and statistical information theory. It consists of an empirical Bayesian information criterion (emBIC) to assess the fitness and virtue of candidate configurations of change-points, and a stochastic search algorithm induced from Gibbs sampling to find the optimal change-points configuration. Our emBIC is derived by treating the unknown change-point locations as latent data rather than parameters as is in traditional BIC, resulting in significant improvement over the latter which is known to mostly over-detect change-points. The use of the Gibbs sampler induced search enables one to quickly find the optimal change-points configuration with high probability and without going through computationally infeasible enumeration. We also integrate the Gibbs sampler induced search with a current BIC-based change-points sequential testing method, significantly improving the method’s performance and computing feasibility. We further develop two comprehensive 3-step computing procedures to implement the proposed methodology for practical use. Finally, simulation studies and real examples analyzing business and genetic data are presented to illustrate and assess the procedures.     

Log-logistic parameters estimation using moving extremes ranked set sampling design

In statistical parameter estimation problems, how well the parameters are estimated largely depends on the sampling design used. In the current paper, a modification of ranked set sampling(RSS) called moving extremes RSS(MERSS) is considered for the estimation of the scale and shape parameters for the log-logistic distribution. Several traditional estimators and ad hoc estimators will be studied under MERSS. The estimators under MERSS are compared to the corresponding ones under SRS. The simulation results show that the estimators under MERSS are significantly more efficient than the ones under SRS.     

Group testing procedures with incomplete identification and unreliable testing results

We consider multistage group testing with incomplete identification and unreliability features. The objective is to find a cost‐efficient group testing policy to select a prespecified number of non‐defective items from some population in the presence of false‐positive and false‐negative test results, subject to reliability and other constraints. To confirm the status of tested groups, various sequential retesting procedures are suggested. We also extend the model to include the possibility of inconclusive test results. We derive all relevant cost functionals in analytically closed form. Numerical examples are also given. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Constrained estimation using judgment post-stratification

In ranked-set sampling (RSS) and judgment post-stratification (JPS), more efficient inference is obtained by creating a stratification based on ranking information. Using this stratification exactly as is done in stratified sampling or standard post-stratification leads to the standard nonparametric estimators for RSS and JPS. However, we show that strata obtained from ranking information satisfy additional constraints that need not be met by ordinary strata. Specifically, the in-stratum cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) can be no more extreme, in a certain sense, than the CDFs for order statistics from the overall distribution. The additional constraints can be used to obtain better small-sample estimates of the in-stratum CDFs using either RSS or JPS. In the JPS case, the constraints also lead to better small-sample estimates of the overall CDF and the population mean.     

Wilcoxon signed rank test using ranked-set sample

Ranked-set sampling is useful when measurements are destructive or costly to obtain but ranking of the observations is relatively easy. The Wilcoxon signed rank test statistic based on the ranked-set sample is considered. We compared the asymptotic relative efficiencies of the RSS Wilcoxon signed rank test statistic with respect to the SRS Wilcoxon signed rank test statistic and the RSS sign test statistic. Throughout the ARE’s, the proposed test statistic is superior to the SRS Wilcoxon signed rank test statistic and the RSS sign test statistic.     

Information inequalities for characteristics of group-sequential test with groups of observations of random size

We consider a group-sequential test for testing a simple hypothesis against a composite one-sided alternative, which defines the following sequential statistical procedure: At each stage a random number of independent identically distributed observations (a group of observations) is observed and, based on the collected data, the decision to accept or to reject the hypothesis or to continue the observation is made. For the tests with finite number of observations, we prove the existence of the derivative of the power function and establish the information-type inequalities relating that derivative to other characteristics of the test: the average number of observations and the type I error.     

基于因变量抽样设计下线性回归模型的假设检验问题

在许多大型队列研究中,采用节约成本并能提高效率的抽样机制至关重要,基于因变量的抽样设计正是这样一种有偏抽样机制.这种方法最大的优点在于:能够将资源集中在那些包含有更多的协变量与因变量关系信息的研究群体上.本文研究基于因变量抽样设计下的线性模型中回归方程显著性检验以及回归系数显著性检验问题.基于一种半参数经验轮廓似然的方法,我们分别为回归方程检验与回归系数检验提出了相应的检验统计量,获得了所提出检验统计量的渐近性质.通过模拟研究评估了所提出的检验方法在有限样本下的表现,并应用提出的方法分析了一个孕妇分娩的实际数据.     

Structural test in regression on functional variables

Many papers deal with structural testing procedures in multivariate regression. More recently, various estimators have been proposed for regression models involving functional explanatory variables. Thanks to these new estimators, we propose a theoretical framework for structural testing procedures adapted to functional regression. The procedures introduced in this paper are innovative and make the link between former works on functional regression and others on structural testing procedures in multivariate regression. We prove asymptotic properties of the level and the power of our procedures under general assumptions that cover a large scope of possible applications: tests for no effect, linearity, dimension reduction, …     

组合的分组测试算法的近似控制标准

对于给定的一个集合,分组测试问题是通过一系列的测试去确定这个集合的一个子集. 在文中, 作者首先运用动态规划的理论与方法, 建立了一个近似控制标准, 目的是对分组测试算法的构建过程进行有效控制, 使所构建的算法达到最优. 其次, 应用该近似控制标准研究了在n个硬币集合中确定一个伪硬币的最小平均测试数的问题. 文中所涉及的近似控制问题, 给出了在一个给定集合中去确定这个集合的一个子集的最优分组测试算法, 该最优分组测试算法是在平均测试步骤最少意义下的最优分组测试算法.