A family of shrinkage estimators for the square of mean in normal distribution

This paper is devoted to the problem of estimating the square of population mean (μ²) in normal distribution when a prior estimate or guessed value σ₀ ² of the population variance σ² is available. We have suggested a family of shrinkage estimators , say, for μ² with its mean squared error formula. A condition is obtained in which the suggested estimator is more efficient than Srivastava et al’s (1980) estimator T_min. Numerical illustrations have been carried out to demonstrate the merits of the constructed estimator over T_min. It is observed that some of these estimators offer improvements over T_min particularly when the population is heterogeneous and σ² is in the vicinity of σ₀ ².     

On shrinkage estimation of the exponential location parameter

Under the assumption that the exponential distribution is a reasonable model for a given population, some shrinkage estimators for the location parameter based on type 1 and type II censored samples have been derived. It is shown that these estimators dominate maximum likelihood estimators (MLE's) asymptotically under the mean squared error (MSE) criterion. A Monte Carlo study shows a significant improvement of our estimators over MLE's in terms of MSE for small samples.     

Improved likelihood inference for the shape parameter in Weibull regression

We obtain adjustments to the profile likelihood function in Weibull regression models with and without censoring. Specifically, we consider two different modified profile likelihoods: (i) the one proposed by Cox and Reid [Cox, D.R. and Reid, N., 1987, Parameter orthogonality and approximate conditional inference. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society B, 49, 1–39.], and (ii) an approximation to the one proposed by Barndorff–Nielsen [Barndorff–Nielsen, O.E., 1983, On a formula for the distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator. Biometrika, 70, 343–365.], the approximation having been obtained using the results by Fraser and Reid [Fraser, D.A.S. and Reid, N., 1995, Ancillaries and third-order significance. Utilitas Mathematica, 47, 33–53.] and by Fraser et al. [Fraser, D.A.S., Reid, N. and Wu, J., 1999, A simple formula for tail probabilities for frequentist and Bayesian inference. Biometrika, 86, 655–661.]. We focus on point estimation and likelihood ratio tests on the shape parameter in the class of Weibull regression models. We derive some distributional properties of the different maximum likelihood estimators and likelihood ratio tests. The numerical evidence presented in the paper favors the approximation to Barndorff–Nielsen's adjustment.     

A generalized class of estimators under two-phase stratified sampling for non response

In this paper, we propose a generalized class of estimators for finite population mean using two auxiliary variables in two-phase stratified sampling for non response. We identify 17 estimators as special cases of the proposed class of estimators. Expressions for the bias and mean squared error (MSE) of estimators are obtained up to first order of approximation. A data set is used for efficiency comparisons.     

Two-sample prediction for progressively Type-II censored Weibull lifetimes

Prediction on the basis of censored data has an important role in many fields. This article develops a non-Bayesian two-sample prediction based on a progressive Type-II right censoring scheme. We obtain the maximum likelihood (ML) prediction in a general form for lifetime models including the Weibull distribution. The Weibull distribution is considered to obtain the ML predictor (MLP), the ML prediction estimate (MLPE), the asymptotic ML prediction interval (AMLPI), and the asymptotic predictive ML intervals of the sth-order statistic in a future random sample (Y_s) drawn independently from the parent population, for an arbitrary progressive censoring scheme. To reach this aim, we present three ML prediction methods namely the numerical solution, the EM algorithm, and the approximate ML prediction. We compare the performances of the different methods of ML prediction under asymptotic normality and bootstrap methods by Monte Carlo simulation with respect to biases and mean square prediction errors (MSPEs) of the MLPs of Y_s as well as coverage probabilities (CP) and average lengths (AL) of the AMLPIs. Finally, we give a numerical example and a real data sample to assess the computational comparison of these methods of the ML prediction.     

Efficient family of estimators of median using two-phase sampling design

ABSTRACT

For a trivariate distribution, an efficient family of estimators of median of study variable using the known information on the auxiliary variables has been proposed under two-phase sampling design. The expressions for bias and its mean square error have been obtained up to first order of approximation. It has been shown that the proposed estimator has smaller bias as compared to estimator defined by Singh et al. (2006 Singh, S., Singh, H.P., Upadhyaya, L.N. (2006). Chain ratio and regression type estimators for median estimation in survey sampling. Statist. Pap. 48:23–46.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) with the same efficiency. The results have also been illustrated numerically by taking data from different populations considered in literature.     

A note on the equivariant estimation of an exponential scale using progressively censored data

We consider the problem of estimating the scale parameter θ$\theta$ of the shifted exponential distribution with unknown location based on a type II progressively censored sample. Under a large class of bowl-shaped loss functions, a smooth estimator, that dominates the minimum risk equivariant estimator of θ$\theta$, is proposed. A numerical study is performed and shows that the improved estimator yields significant risk reduction over the MRE.     

Comparison of estimators of the location parameter using pitman's closeness criterion

Necessary and sufficient conditions for a linear estimator to dominate another linear estimator of a location parameter under the Pitman's criterion of comparison are discussed. Consequently it is demonstrated that a linear biased estimator can not dominate a linear unbiased estimator under Pitman's criterion and that the sample mean is the Closest Linear Unbiased Estimator (CLUE). It is also shown that the ridge regression estimator with a known biasing constant can not dominate the ordinary least squares estimator. If an estimator δdominates an estimator δin the average loss sense then sufficient conditions are obtained under which δis also preferred over δunder Pitman's criterion. Further we obtain sufficient conditions under which preference under the Pitman's criterion will lead to preference under the mean squared error sense.     

A consistent method of estimation for the three-parameter lognormal distribution based on Type-II right censored data

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we propose a parameter estimation method for the three-parameter lognormal distribution based on Type-II right censored data. In the proposed method, under mild conditions, the estimates always exist uniquely in the entire parameter space, and the estimators also have consistency over the entire parameter space. Through Monte Carlo simulations, we further show that the proposed method performs very well compared to a prominent method of estimation in terms of bias and root mean squared error (RMSE) in small-sample situations. Finally, two examples based on real data sets are presented for illustrating the proposed method.     

Accuracy of approximate progressively censored reliability sampling plans for exponential models

Reliability sampling plans provide an efficient method to determine the acceptability of a product based upon the lifelengths of some test units. Usually, they depend on the producer and consumer’s quality requirements and do not admit closed form solutions. Acceptance sampling plans for one- and two-parameter exponential lifetime models, derived by approximating the operating characteristic curve, are presented in this paper. The accuracy of these approximate plans, which are explicitly expressible and valid for failure and progressive censoring, is assessed. The approximation proposed in the one-parameter case is found to be practically exact. Explicit lower and upper bounds on the smallest sample size are given in the two-parameter case. Some additional advantages are also pointed out.     

A new class of estimators of finite population mean in sample surveys

This article suggests the class of estimators of population mean of study variable using various parameters related to an auxiliary variable with its properties in simple random sampling. It has been identified that the some existing estimator/classes of estimators are members of suggested class. It has been found theoretically as well as empirically that the suggested class is better than the existing methods.     

A composite class of estimators using scrambled response mechanism for sensitive population mean in successive sampling

This paper considers the problem of estimation of population mean of a sensitive characteristics using non-sensitive auxiliary variable at current move in two move successive sampling. The proposed estimator is studied under five different scrambled response models. Various estimators have been elaborated to be the member of the proposed class of estimators. The properties of the proposed estimators have been analysed. Many estimators belonging to the proposed class have been explored under five scrambled response models. In order to identify the scrambled model effect, the proposed composite class of estimators is compared to the direct methods. Respondents privacy protection have also been elaborated under different models. Theoretical results are supplemented with numerical demonstrations using real data. Simulation has been carried out to show the applicability of proposed estimators and hence suitable recommendations are forwarded.     

The generalized family of estimators of population mean using auxiliary information in double sampling

Abstract

We suggested the class of estimators of the population mean with its bias and mean square error. It has been shown that the suggested class is more efficient than the usual unbiased, ratio, product and regression estimators and estimators due to Bahl and Tuteja (1991), Singh et al. (2009), and Upadhyaya et al. (2011). In addition an empirical study also carried out to and founded that the members of suggested family also have improvement over Grover and Kaur (2011) and Shabbir and Gupta (2011) classes. Two-phase (double) sampling version of the proposed class was also given.     

An estimator for the scale parameter of the two parameter weibull distribution for type i singly right-censored data

For type I censoring, in addition to the failure times, the number failures is also observed as part of the data. Using this feature of type I singly right-censored data a simple estimator is obtained for the scale parameter of the two parameter Weibull distribution. The exact mean and variance of the estimator are derived and computed for finite sample sizes. Its limiting properties such as asymptotic normality and asymptotic relative efficiency are obtained. The estimator has high efficiency for moderate and heavy censoring. Its use is illustrated by means of an example.     

Searching effective rotation patterns for population median using exponential type estimators in two-occasion rotation sampling

ABSTRACT

The present article is an attempt to explore the rotation patterns using exponential ratio type estimators for the estimation of finite population median at current occasion in two occasion rotation sampling. Properties of the proposed estimators including the optimum replacement strategies have been elaborated. The proposed estimators have been compared with sample median estimator when there is no matching from previous occasion as well with the ratio type estimator proposed by Singh et al. (2007 Singh, H.P., Tailor, R., Singh, S., Kim, Jong-Min. (2007). Quintile estimation in successive sampling. J. Kor. Stat. Soc. 36(4):543–556. [Google Scholar]) for second quantile. The behaviors of the proposed estimators are justified by empirical interpretations and validated by means of simulation study with the help of some natural populations.     

Performance of adaptive estimators in slowly varying parameter models

This paper analyzes the MSE of the exponentially weighted least squares (EWLS) estimator in dynamic regression models with time-varying parameters. Under the assumption of differentiable parameter functions, it is derived an asymptotic expression which is the sum of a stationary and of an evolutionary component. The validity of the analytical expression is illustrated with simulation experiments, and its usefulness in designing the exponential discounting factor is illustrated on a real case-study. The practical finding is similar to the plug-in bandwidth selection in nonparametric smoothers.     

Parameter estimation of the flexible Weibull distribution for type I censored samples

Often in practice one is interested in the situation where the lifetime data are censored. Censorship is a common phenomenon frequently encountered when analyzing lifetime data due to time constraints. In this paper, the flexible Weibull distribution proposed in Bebbington et al. [A flexible Weibull extension, Reliab. Eng. Syst. Safety 92 (2007), pp. 719–726] is studied using maximum likelihood technics based on three different algorithms: Newton Raphson, Levenberg Marquardt and Trust Region reflective. The proposed parameter estimation method is introduced and proved to work from theoretical and practical point of view. On one hand, we apply a maximum likelihood estimation method using complete simulated and real data. On the other hand, we study for the first time the model using simulated and real data for type I censored samples. The estimation results are approved by a statistical test.     

A family of estimators of population variance in two-occasion rotation patterns

Abstract

In this article, we have considered the problem of estimation of population variance on current (second) occasion in two occasion successive (rotation) sampling. A class of estimators of population variance has been proposed and its asymptotic properties have been discussed. The proposed class of estimators is compared with the sample variance estimator when there is no matching from the previous occasion and the Singh et al. (2013) estimator. Optimum replacement policy is discussed. It has been shown that the suggested estimator is more efficient than the Singh et al. (2013) estimator and a usual unbiased estimator when there is no matching. An empirical study is carried out in support of the present study.