Empirical Bayes approach to multiparameter estimation: with special reference to multinomial distribution

Empirical Bayes approach to estimation of many parameters is considered. Special features of the techniques discussed are: (i) the handling of unequal sample sizes at various stages of an Empirical Bayes sampling scheme and (ii) a general iterative procedure for estimating the parameters of a parametric prior distribution based on the likelihood approach. Linear empirical Bayes estimation is also considered. Application of the general techniques is demonstrated with special reference to a multinomial data distribution.